Caprylic acid ameliorates rotenone induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the gut-brain axis in Zebrafish

Background

Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of the most common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Pathological processes causing PD were suggested to initiate in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and proceed to the central nervous system (CNS). There are studies showing that low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets can improve motor symptoms of PD. Caprylic acid (C8) is the principal fatty acid component of the medium-chain triglycerides in the ketogenic diets. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of caprylic acid, in neurotoxin exposed zebrafish focusing on the relationship between intestinal and brain oxidative stress and inflammation.

Methods

Adult zebrafish were exposed to rotenone (5 μg/L) (R group) and caprylic acid (20 and 60 mg/mL) (L?+?HDCA and R?+?HDCA groups) for 30 days. At the end of 30 days locomotor activities were determined. Levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide, glutathione and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods and gene expressions of tnf?, il1, il6, il21, ifn? and bdnf were evaluated by RT-PCR in the brain and intestinal tissues of zebrafish.

Results

Caprylic acid ameliorated LPO, NO, SOD and the expressions of tnf?, il1, il6, il21, ifn? and bdnf in brain and intestines. Locomotor activities were only ameliorated in high dose R?+?HDCA group.

Conclusions

Caprylic acid ameliorated the neurotoxin-induced oxidative stress and inflammation both in the brain and intestines and enhanced locomotor activity in zebrafish.

Graphical abstract

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sperchon (Scutosperchon) akdagensis</Emphasis> sp. n. (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Sperchontidae) from Turkey

The structural characteristics, unique features, various organ measurements of males and females of the Sperchon (Scutosperchon) akdagensis sp. n. water mite from Turkey are described. In addition, morphological characteristics of the new species are compared with related species.     

Congenital alacrima in a patient with G (Opitz Frias) syndrome

Congenital alacrima is an autosomal dominant disorder showing markedly deficient lacrimation and punctate corneal epithelial erosions. The G (Opitz-Frias) syndrome is also an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by hypertelorism, hypospadias, stridor, and dysphagia. Here we report a 5-year-old boy with the G syndrome presenting congenital alacrima. Received: 23 August 1995 / Revised: 25 September 1995     

Detection of p16 promotor hypermethylation in “Maras powder” and tobacco users

Background: A plant powder called “Maras powder” is widely used instead of cigarette smoking in the South-Eastern region of Turkey. It has been confirmed that this powder comprises tobacco Nicotiana rustica L. Methods: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Maras powder and cigarette smoking on the P16 promotor hypermethylation. Twenty-two Maras powder users (Group I), 12 cigarette smokers (Group II), and 16 healthy controls who neither smoked nor used Maras powder (Group III) were included in the study. Hypermethylation of the P16 gene was examined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method in the blood of the three groups. Results: Aberrant P16 methylation was found in 7 of the 22 (31.8%) in Group I, in 3 of 12 (25%) in Group II, and in 1 of 16 (6.25%) in Group III. Conclusion: Maras powder may be as harmful as cigarette smoking, leading to hypermethylation in P16 and warrants detailed studies on this subject.