Alendronate inhibits triglyceride accumulation and oxidative stress in adipocytes and the inflammatory response of macrophages which are associated with adipose tissue dysfunction

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Alendronate, a bisphosphonate used to prevent osteoporosis, stimulates osteogenesis but impairs adipogenesis. Different clinical trials suggest that the...     

New polymorphism of FASN gene in chicken

Sequencing, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) were carried out to detect polymorphism in the last intron of the FASN gene of the Campero broiler line. The analysis of the sequences presents a G to A substitution located at base 459 of the PCR product (GenBank accession number J02839, located at base Nr. 1222), resulting in a site recognized by restriction enzymes Hae III and Ava II. Also, the sequence presents a G to A substitution (located at base 603 of the PCR product and Nr. 1366 of the J02839 GenBank accession) resulting in a site recognized by restriction enzyme Pst I. Alleles and genotype frequencies were calculated for endonucleases Hae III, Ava II and Pst I for 44 broilers.     

Decreased β-adrenoceptor chronotropic response in selenium-deficient mice

With the aim to study if selenium (Se) deficiency affects the basal frequency and cardiac response to isoproterenol (ISO), mice were fed a Se-deficient diet (Se-) or the same diet supplemented with 0.2 ppm Se as sodium selenite (Se+) for 4 wk. Atria frequency, cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and β-adrenoceptor-binding assay were then examined. Results showed that Se-mice have both a reduction in atria frequency as well as in cAMP content but higher NOS activity levels either at basal or after ISO stimulation. These differences were suppressed by feeding Se-mice with a Se-supplemented diet for 1 wk or by inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Alterations observed after ISO stimulation in atria of Se-mice were not related to a β-adrenoceptor expression modification because specific radioligand-binding parameters in cardiac membranes from Se-mice and Se+ mice were similar. The reduced response on rate and cAMP in atria from Se-mice to direct adenylate cyclase (AC) stimulation by forskolin and the shifted upward levels present in 2-amino-4-methylpyridine-treated Se-mice is in agreement with a negative crosstalk between iNOS activity and AC activity in Se-mice.