Growth,body composition and digestive enzyme responses of Caspian Kutum,Rutilus frisii (Kamenskii, 1901), juveniles fed different levels of carbohydrates

The study evaluated the effects of dietary carbohydrate levels on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities in juveniles Caspian Kutum, Rutilus frisii (Kamenskii, 1901). Fish with an initial average weight of 0.8 ± 0.2 g (means ± SD) were fed five isonitrogenous and isoenergic formulated diets with different carbohydrate levels of 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 35% in triplicate groups for 10 weeks (fifteen 45‐L aquaria with 30 fish per tank and water temperature of 21.5–23.5°C). Based on the results, growth performance of Caspian Kutum was significantly improved by increasing carbohydrate levels from 15% to 35% (p < .05). A result of body composition analysis showed that the protein content was elevated with increasing carbohydrate levels (p < .05). Digestive enzyme activities were significantly influenced by dietary carbohydrate levels (p < .05). Trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase specific activities increased significantly with rising carbohydrate levels from 15% to 35%. Alkaline phosphatase and N amino peptidase activities increased with carbohydrate levels increasing from 15% to 25%, but decreased with a further rise in the carbohydrate level from 25% to 35%. The results indicate that increasing carbohydrate levels from 15% to 35% have positive effects on growth parameters. However, carbohydrate amounts at levels higher than 35% and their effects on growth performance and digestive enzymes are not obvious, hence, more widespread studies on this nutrient are recommended.     

Post-exercise carbohydrate plus whey protein hydrolysates supplementation increases skeletal muscle glycogen level in rats

Recent studies showed that a combination of carbohydrate and protein was more effective than carbohydrate alone for replenishing muscle glycogen after exercise. However, it remains to be unclear whether the source or degree of hydrolysis of dietary protein influences post-exercise glycogen accumulation. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dietary protein type on glycogen levels in the post-exercise phase, and to investigate the effects of post-exercise carbohydrate and protein supplementation on phosphorylated enzymes of Akt/PKB and atypical PKCs. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, trained for 3 days, swam with a 2% load of body weight for 4 h to deplete skeletal muscle glycogen. Immediately after the glycogen-depleting exercise, one group was killed, whereas the other groups were given either glucose or glucose plus protein (whey protein, whey protein hydrolysates (WPH), casein hydrolysates or branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) solutions. After 2 h, the rats were killed, and the triceps muscles quickly excised. WPH caused significant increases in skeletal muscle glycogen level (5.01 ± 0.24 mg/g), compared with whey protein (4.23 ± 0.24 mg/g), BCAA (3.92 ± 0.18 mg/g) or casein hydrolysates (2.73 ± 0.22 mg/g). Post-exercise ingestion of glucose plus WPH significantly increased both phosphorylated Akt/PKB (131%) and phosphorylated PKCζ (154%) levels compared with glucose only. There was a significant positive correlation between skeletal muscle glycogen content and phosphorylated Akt/PKB (r = 0.674, P < 0.001) and PKCζ (r = 0.481, P = 0.017). Post-exercise supplementation with carbohydrate and WPH increases skeletal muscle glycogen recovery by activating key enzymes such as Akt/PKB and atypical PKCs.     

Prolonged fasting significantly changes nutrient oxidation and glucose tolerance after a normal mixed meal

The aim of this study wasto establish the experimental paradigm of fasting, followed byrefeeding, to investigate individual differences in nutrientpartitioning. Eight nonobese men were fed a normal meal (25% ofdaily energy requirements) on two occasions, after an overnight (13-h)fast and after a prolonged (72-h) fast. During the entire fastingperiod, subjects were resident in a whole room indirect calorimeter,and blood samples were drawn periodically. Because no other food wasconsumed over the 12 h after either meal, negative energy balancewas observed after the overnight and prolonged fast. Postprandialcarbohydrate oxidation was significantly reduced after the 72- vs. 13-hfast (P < 0.0001), whereas fat oxidation wassignificantly increased (P < 0.0001). Interestingly,carbohydrate balance was positive after the prolonged fast but negativeafter the overnight fast (24 ± 17 vs. 57 ± 16 g/12 h,respectively; P < 0.001), whereas fat balance wasnegative under both conditions (78 ± 7 vs. 47 ± 8 g/12h, respectively; P < 0.002). With 72 h offasting, the glucose and insulin excursions in response to the mixedmeal were significantly greater compared with the 13-h fast(P < 0.001). In conclusion, prolonged fasting resulted in a significant decrease in carbohydrate oxidation and anincrease in fat oxidation, after a normal mixed meal, in healthy men.This was associated with a significant decrease in glucose tolerance.Because circulating free fatty acids were greatly elevated at all timesafter the prolonged fast, these may be mediating some of the changes inpostprandial metabolism.

     

Endurance in high-fat-fed rats: effects of carbohydrate content and fatty acid profile

The purpose ofthis experiment was to study endurance performance and substratestorage and utilization in fat- or carbohydrate-fed rats. Ninety-ninerats were randomly divided into three groups and over 4 wk were fedeither a carbohydrate-rich [CHO; 10% total energy content in the diet(E%) fat, 20 E% protein, 70 E% carbohydrate] diet or one of twofat-rich diets (65 E% fat, 20 E% protein, 15 E% carbohydrate)containing either saturated (Sat) or monounsaturated fatty acids(Mono). Each dietary group was randomly assigned to a trained (6 days/wk, progressive to 60 min, 28 m/min at a 10% incline) or asedentary group. Rats were killed either before or after a treadmillendurance run to exhaustion. Training increased endurance (206%), butdiet composition did not affect endurance in either trained orsedentary rats. -Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity wasincreased in fat-fed but not carbohydrate-fed rats (P < 0.05). Respiratory exchangeratio during the initial phase of exercise was lower after the Monocompared with the Sat diet (P < 0.05) and higher after the CHO than the Sat diet(P < 0.05). Thus adaptation to ahigh-fat diet containing a moderate amount of carbohydrates did notinduce enhanced endurance in either trained or untrained rats; however,substrate utilization was modulated by both amount and type of dietaryfat during the initial stage of exercise in trained and sedentary rats.

     

Delay of early fruitlet abscission by branch girdling in citrus coincides with previous increases in carbohydrate and gibberellin concentrations

Current evidence in citrus indicates that gibberellins (GAs) are main determinants of early fruit set while subsequent growth of developing fruits is mostly dependent upon carbohydrate availability. In this work, branch girdling performed at anthesis in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu (Mak.) Marc.) cv. Okitsu transitorily reduced early abscission rates (12–32 days after anthesis, DAA) delaying initially the process of natural fruitlet drop. The effects of girdling on growth, gibberellin (GA) and carbohydrate concentrations in developing ovaries and fruitlets were assessed during this initial growth stage (0–69 DAA). In girdled branches, abscission rate reduction was preceded by elevated concentrations of carbohydrate and GA in developing ovaries and fruitlets. Girdling at anthesis stimulated higher hexose (21 DAA) and starch (6–20 DAA) concentrations and also higher GA₁ (6 DAA), GA₁₉ (13–20 DAA) and GA₂₀ (6–20 DAA). The results established a relationship between the reduction of early abscission rates and higher concentrations of carbohydrates and GAs induced by girdling in developing fruitlets. These findings revealed that girdling certainly increased GA concentration and strongly suggested that its effect on early fruitlet abscission delay is likely mediated by both GA and carbohydrates.     

Synthesis and evaluation of iminocoumaryl and coumaryl derivatized glycosides as galectin antagonists

A collection of iminocoumarylmethyl glycoside derivatives have been prepared by copper-catalyzed multi-component reaction of carbohydrate propargyl derivatives, sulfonyl azides, and salicylaldehyde or o-hydroxy acetophenone. The method is simple, versatile to all three components, and exceptionally high yielding. The carbohydrate N-sulfonyl iminocoumarine hybrid molecules were evaluated for binding galectin-1, -2, -3, -4 N, -4C, -7, -8 N, -9 N, and 9C using a competitive fluorescence polarization assay. Selective compounds were identified against galectin-3, 7, 8 N, and 9 N with up to 40-fold affinity enhancements relative to methyl α-d-galactopyranoside due to the coumarylmethyl moieties.     

Persistence of supercompensated muscle glycogen in trained subjects after carbohydrate loading

Goforth, Jr., Harold W., David A. Arnall, Brad L. Bennett,and Patricia G. Law. Persistence of supercompensated muscle glycogen in trained subjects after carbohydrate loading.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(1): 342-347, 1997.Several carbohydrate (CHO)-loading protocols have been used toachieve muscle glycogen supercompensation and prolong enduranceperformance. This study assessed the persistence of muscle glycogensupercompensation over the 3 days after the supercompensation protocol.Trained male athletes completed a 6-day CHO-loading protocol thatincluded cycle ergometer exercise and dietary manipulations. The 3-daydepletion phase began with 115 min of cycling at 75% peak oxygenuptake followed by 3 × 60-s sprints and included the subjectsconsuming a low-CHO/high-protein/high-fat (10:41:49%) diet. Subjectscycled 40 min at the same intensity for the next 2 days. During the3-day repletion phase, subjects rested and consumed ahigh-CHO/low-protein/low-fat (85:08:07%) diet, including aglucose-polymer beverage. A 3-day postloading phase followed, whichinvolved a moderately high CHO diet (60%) and no exercise. Glycogenvalues for vastus lateralis biopsies at baseline and postloadingdays 1-3 were 408 ± 168 (SD),729 ± 222, 648 ± 186, and 714 ± 196 mmol/kg dry wt,respectively. The CHO-loading protocol increased muscle glycogen by1.79 times baseline, and muscle glycogen remained near this levelduring the 3-day postloading period. Results indicate thatsupercompensated muscle glycogen levels can be maintained for at least3 days in a resting athlete when a moderate-CHO diet is consumed.

     

The microsporidian pathogen Myrmecomorba nylanderiae: Intracolony transmission and impact upon tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) colonies

The microsporidian pathogen Myrmecomorba nylanderiae Plowes et al. infects introduced tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva (Mayr)), and constitutes one of the first natural enemies known to attack this invasive ant. We assess how infection is transmitted within colonies and how infection impacts N. fulva colony fragment growth under carbohydrate‐deficient and carbohydrate‐sufficient dietary conditions. Carbohydrate scarcity is a common source of stress for ant colonies. Infected workers efficiently pass infection to developing larvae but all other potential pathways for within colony transmission are rare or non‐viable. For unknown reasons, queens within infected colony fragments are generally uninfected, limiting the role of transovarial transmission in intracolony transmission. In the laboratory, infection by M. nylanderiae primarily impacts the growth of N. fulva colonies by reducing pupal production. Colony growth showed a substantially greater impact under carbohydrate‐deficient conditions implying that the effect of the pathogen may depend on seasonally variable carbohydrate availability. In the colony growth assay, worker mortality did not differ with infection status under either nutrient regime. However, in a longer, direct test of survivorship, infected worker survivorship was significantly lower. Recently, some established N. fulva populations with high prevalence of M. nylanderiae infection have declined precipitously, though it is unknown if M. nylanderiae is a causative agent in these declines. The combination of chronic impacts, presence in North America, and potential association with population declines makes M. nylanderiae a promising prospect for the biological control of N. fulva.     

Postexercise protein-carbohydrate and carbohydrate supplements increase muscle glycogen in men and women

Tarnopolsky, M. A., M. Bosman, J. R. MacDonald, D. Vandeputte, J. Martin, and B. D. Roy. Postexerciseprotein-carbohydrate and carbohydrate supplements increase muscleglycogen in men and women. J. Appl.Physiol. 83(6): 1877-1883, 1997.We havepreviously demonstrated that women did not increase intramuscularglycogen in response to an increased percent of dietary carbohydrate(CHO) (from 60 to 75% of energy intake) (M. A. Tarnopolsky, S. A. Atkinson, S. M. Phillips, and J. D. MacDougall.J. Appl. Physiol. 78: 1360-1368, 1995). CHO and CHO-protein (Pro) supplementation postexercise canpotentiate glycogen resynthesis compared with placebo (K. M. Zawadzki,B. B. Yaspelkis, and J. L. Ivy. J. Appl.Physiol. 72: 1854-1859, 1992). We studied theeffect of isoenergetic CHO and CHO-Pro-Fat supplements on muscleglycogen resynthesis in the first 4 h after endurance exercise (90 minat 65% peak O₂ consumption) intrained endurance athletes (men, n = 8; women, tested in midfollicular phase,n = 8). Each subject completed threesequential trials separated by 3 wk; a supplement was provided immediately and 1-h postexercise: 1)CHO (0.75 g/kg) + Pro (0.1 g/kg) + Fat (0.02 g/kg),2) CHO (1 g/kg), and3) placebo (Pl; artificialsweetener). Subjects were given prepackaged, isoenergetic, isonitrogenous diets, individualized to their habitual diet, for theday before and during the exercise trial. During exercise, womenoxidized more lipid than did men (P < 0.05). Both of the supplement trials resulted in greaterpostexercise glucose and insulin compared with Pl(P < 0.01), with no genderdifferences. Similarly, both of these trials resulted in increasedglycogen resynthesis (37.2 vs. 24.6 mmol · kg drymuscle¹ · h¹,CHO vs. CHO-Pro-Fat, respectively) compared with Pl (7.5 mmol · kg drymuscle¹ · h¹;P < 0.001) with no genderdifferences. We conclude that postexercise CHO and CHO-Pro-Fatnutritional supplements can increase glycogen resynthesis to a greaterextent than Pl for both men and women.

     

Isocaloric manipulation of macronutrients within a high-carbohydrate/moderate-fat diet induces unique effects on hepatic lipogenesis,steatosis and liver injury

Diets containing excess carbohydrate and fat promote hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis in mice. Little is known, however, about the impact of specific carbohydrate/fat combinations on liver outcome. This study was designed to determine whether high-energy diets with identical caloric density but different carbohydrate and fat composition have unique effects on the liver. Four experimental diets were formulated with 60% kcal carbohydrate and 20% kcal fat, each in nearly pure form from a single source: starch-oleate, starch-palmitate, sucrose-oleate and sucrose-palmitate. The diets were fed to mice for 3 or 12 weeks for analysis of lipid metabolism and liver injury. All mice developed hepatic steatosis over 12 weeks, but mice fed the sucrose-palmitate diet accumulated more hepatic lipid than those in the other three experimental groups. The exaggerated lipid accumulation in sucrose-palmitate-fed mice was attributable to a disproportionate rise in hepatic de novo lipogenesis. These mice accrued more hepatic palmitate and exhibited more evidence of liver injury than any of the other experimental groups. Interestingly, lipogenic gene expression in mice fed the custom diets did not correlate with actual de novo lipogenesis. In addition, de novo lipogenesis rose in all mice between 3 and 12 weeks, without feedback inhibition from hepatic steatosis. The pairing of simple sugar (sucrose) and saturated fat (palmitate) in a high-carbohydrate/moderate-fat diet induces more de novo lipogenesis and liver injury than other carbohydrate/fat combinations. Diet-induced liver injury correlates positively with hepatic de novo lipogenesis and is not predictable by isolated analysis of lipogenic gene expression.     

Rice carbohydrate dynamics regulate endophytic colonization of Diaporthe liquidambaris in response to external nitrogen

The fungal endophyte Diaporthe liquidambaris can establish mutualistic relationships with rice (Oryza sativa) and promote plant growth, specifically under low nitrogen (N) conditions, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The fungal nutritional status, which is based on host carbohydrate dynamics, determines symbiotic outcomes. In this study, an experiment with (E+) and without (E-) D. liquidambaris under low, moderate and high N conditions demonstrated that D. liquidambaris promoted chlorophyll biosynthesis and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSCs) accumulation in rice roots and root exudates under a lower N supply. In addition, D. liquidambaris grew better on substrates containing E+ root extracts in vitro due to the carbon (C) resource compared to that on E-treatments. Further experiments with manipulated environmental conditions (light and temperature) in vivo indicated that increased root WSCs were closely related to improved fungal colonization. We concluded that the presence of the fungal endophyte induced an enhanced mutualistic system by mediating host carbohydrate dynamics under N-poor conditions.     

VFAs bioproduction from waste activated sludge by coupling pretreatments with Agaricus bisporus substrates conditioning

A novel strategy for improving volatile fatty acids (VFAs) bioproduction from waste activated sludge (WAS) was developed by coupling pretreatments with conditioning (CPC). Agaricus bisporus substrate (ABS) was used as external carbohydrate additive source of conditioning step. Pretreatment was studied in three ways: alkaline, alkaline-thermal and ultrasonic. WAS hydrolysis and protein degradation was distinctly improved by CPC treatments, resulting in a considerable enhancement of VFAs yield. The maximal VFAs yield was 614 ± 71, 712 ± 49 and 598 ± 19 mg COD/g VSS at pre-optimized alkaline, alkaline-thermal and ultrasonic CPC treatments, respectively, with an increase of 35%, 50% and 38% compared to the yields of pretreated WAS fermentation. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that a synergistic effect occurred in co-digesting WAS and ABS. The conditioning of carbohydrate with feasible pretreatment provided large room for the digestibility improvement and the operation cost reduction in the whole WAS treatment system.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate on the growth performance,immune response,hepatic antioxidant abilities and heat shock protein 70 expression of Wuchang bream,Megalobrama amblycephala

To investigate the effects of different carbohydrate (CHO) levels in the diet of Wuchang bream Megalobrama amblycephala, the fish were randomly divided into six treatment groups. Five groups were fed 19, 25, 31, 38 and 47% CHO, respectively, for 8 weeks, and a control group was fed a diet with no CHO. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the dietary carbohydrate level. Maximum weight gain and specific growth rate occurred at the 31% dietary carbohydrate level. Compared to the control, the 31% CHO group had a significantly increased serum total protein content, respiratory burst activity of leucocytes, serum complement 3 (C3) levels, serum lysozyme activity, serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and hepatic total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC), as well as a decrease in serum glutamic‐oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity. Compared to the control, the 47% CHO group had significantly increased serum GOT activity, and a tendency toward an increase in serum cortisol content and a decrease in serum lysozyme activity, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and T‐AOC. The relative level of hepatic heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA in fish fed the 38% CHO diet was significantly higher than those of fish fed the 19, 25 and 31% CHO diets, respectively (P < 0.05). After challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, fish fed the 47% CHO had the significantly lowest post‐challenge survival, and fish fed the 31% CHO had the significantly highest post‐challenge survival (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that ingestion of excessive dietary CHO can impact the non‐specific immune responses, decrease the hepatic antioxidant abilities, and thus affect the health status of M. amblycephala.     

Water Diffusion in the Semi-Liquid State during Industrial Candy Preparation

In the domain of production of flavor delivery systems based on carbohydrate matrices, Hot Melt Extrusion (HME) is one of the processes used which implies a relatively slow water evaporation step compared to Spray Drying or other common processes. The HME process of generating liquid syrup is stable only at industrial scales. The drying kinetic associated to the syrup formation is followed by collecting the vapored water. This experiment is exploited to estimate the diffusion coefficient of liquid water in a continuously concentrating carbohydrate melt ranging from 30.4 to 10.2%w/w water content and at temperatures ranging from 100 to 116 °C. A combination of Fick, Arnold and Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher models was used to derive the viscosity of the solution, the gradient thickness at the surface of the stirred solution and the diffusion coefficient of water in the liquid under boiling conditions. It is here demonstrated that under continuous boiling conditions, the water concentration gradient depth from the surface of the solution has a dimension that is comparable to the size of the hydrated carbohydrate molecules and the diffusion coefficient of water in boiling carbohydrate solutions ranges from 5.10⁻⁹ cm.s⁻² for low temperature and high water content to 10⁻¹¹ cm.s⁻² for high temperature and low water content.

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Structure and Specificity of a Binary Tandem Domain F-Lectin from Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)

The plasma of the striped bass Morone saxatilis contains a fucose-specific lectin (MsaFBP32) that consists of two F-type carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) in tandem. The crystal structure of the complex of MsaFBP32 with l-fucose reported here shows a cylindrical  81-Å-long and  60-Å-wide trimer divided into two globular halves: one containing N-terminal CRDs (N-CRDs) and the other containing C-terminal CRDs (C-CRDs). The resulting binding surfaces at the opposite ends of the cylindrical trimer have the potential to cross-link cell surface or humoral carbohydrate ligands. The N-CRDs and C-CRDs of MsaFBP32 exhibit significant structural differences, suggesting that they recognize different glycans. Analysis of the carbohydrate binding sites provides the structural basis for the observed specificity of MsaFBP32 for simple carbohydrates and suggests that the N-CRD recognizes more complex fucosylated oligosaccharides and with a relatively higher avidity than the C-CRD. Modeling of MsaFBP32 complexed with fucosylated glycans that are widely distributed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes rationalizes the observation that binary tandem CRD F-type lectins function as opsonins by cross-linking “non-self” carbohydrate ligands and “self” carbohydrate ligands, such as sugar structures displayed by microbial pathogens and glycans on the surface of phagocytic cells from the host.     

α-Chymotrypsin stabilization by chemical conjugation with O-carboxymethyl-poly-β-cyclodextrin

Bovine pancreatic α-chymotrypsin was covalently modified with the O-carboxymethyl poly-β-cyclodextrin (M=1.3×10⁴, 40% COOH groups) using a water-soluble carbodiimide as a coupling agent. The conjugate prepared by this procedure retained high proteolytic and esterolytic activity and contained about 74% carbohydrate by weight of transformed protein. The optimum temperature for α-chymotrypsin was increased by 5 °C after this transformation. The thermostability of the polymer–enzyme adduct was also increased by 5 °C. The conjugate prepared was also more resistant to thermal inactivation at different temperatures, ranging from 45 to 55 °C. Additionally, the modified enzyme was 11-fold more stable at pH 9.0. The direct influence of supramolecular interactions between the hydrophobic amino acid residues located at the surface of the protease and the attached polycyclodextrin moieties on α-chymotrypsin stabilization was demonstrated.     

Low energy availability, not stress of exercise, alters LH pulsatility in exercising women

Loucks, A. B., M. Verdun, and E. M. Heath. Low energyavailability, not stress of exercise, alters LH pulsatility in exercising women. J. Appl. Physiol.84(1): 37-46, 1998.We tested two hypotheses about the disruptionof luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility in exercising women by assayingLH in blood samples drawn at 10-min intervals over 24 h from nineyoung, habitually sedentary, regularly menstruating women ondays 8,9, or10 of two menstrual cycles after 4 days of intense exercise [E = 30 kcal · kg leanbody mass(LBM)¹ · day¹at 70% of aerobic capacity]. To test the hypothesis that LHpulsatility is disrupted by low energy availability, we controlled thesubjects' dietary energy intakes (I) to set theirenergy availabilities (A = I  E) at 45 and 10 kcal · kgLBM¹ · day¹during the two trials. To test the hypothesis that LH pulsatility isdisrupted by the stress of exercise, we compared the resulting LHpulsatilities to those previously reported in women with similar controlled energy availability who had not exercised. In the exercising women, low energy availability reduced LH pulse frequency by 10% (P < 0.01) during thewaking hours and increased LH pulse amplitude by 36%(P = 0.05) during waking and sleepinghours, but this reduction in LH pulse frequency was blunted by 60%(P = 0.03) compared with that in thepreviously studied nonexercising women whose low energy availabilitywas caused by dietary restriction. The stress of exercise neitherreduced LH pulse frequency nor increased LH pulse amplitude (allP > 0.4). During exercise, theproportion of energy derived from carbohydrate oxidation was reducedfrom 73% while A = 45 kcal · kgLBM¹ · day¹to 49% while A = 10 kcal · kgLBM¹ ·day¹(P < 0.0001). These resultscontradict the hypothesis that LH pulsatility is disrupted by exercisestress and suggest that LH pulsatility in women depends on energyavailability.

     

Adaptive contraction of diet breadth affects sexual maturation and specific nutrient consumption in an extreme generalist omnivore

Animals balance their intake of specific nutrients, but little is known about how they do so when foraging in an environment with toxic resources and whether toxic foods promote adaptations that affect life history traits. In German cockroach (Blattella germanica) populations, glucose aversion has evolved in response to glucose‐containing insecticidal baits. We restricted newly eclosed glucose‐averse (GA) and wild‐type (WT) female cockroaches to nutritionally defined diets varying in protein‐to‐carbohydrate (P : C) ratio (3 : 1, 1 : 1, or 1 : 3) or gave them free choice of the 3 : 1 and 1 : 3 diets, with either glucose or fructose as the sole carbohydrate source. We measured consumption of each diet over 6 days and then dissected the females to measure the length of basal oocytes in their ovaries. Our results showed significantly lower consumption by GA compared to WT cockroaches when restricted to glucose‐containing diets, but also lower fructose intake by GA compared to WT cockroaches when restricted to high fructose diets or given choice of fructose‐containing diets. Protein intake was regulated tightly regardless of carbohydrate intake, except by GA cockroaches restricted to glucose‐containing diets. Oocyte growth was completely suppressed in GA females restricted to glucose‐containing diets, but also significantly slower in GA than in WT females restricted to fructose‐containing diets. Our findings suggest that GA cockroaches have adapted to reduced diet breadth through endocrine adjustments which reduce requirements for energetic fuels. Our study illustrates how an evolutionary change in the chemosensory system may affect the evolution of other traits that govern animal life histories.     

Utilization of glycogen but not plasma glucose is reduced in individuals with NIDDM during mild-intensity exercise

Colberg, Sheri R., James M. Hagberg, Steve D. McCole, JosephM. Zmuda, Paul D. Thompson, and David E. Kelley. Utilization ofglycogen but not plasma glucose is reduced in individuals with NIDDMduring mild-intensity exercise. J. Appl.Physiol. 81(4): 2027-2033, 1996.To test thehypothesis that substrate utilization during mild-intensity exercisediffers in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) comparedwith nondiabetic subjects, seven lean healthy subjects (L), seven obesehealthy subjects (O), and seven individuals with NIDDM were studiedduring 40 min of mild-intensity cycling (40% of peakO₂ uptake). Systemic utilization of plasma glucose (Glc Rd) was determined by using isotope dilution methods. Gas exchange was measured to determine rates of carbohydrate (CHO) and lipid oxidation. During exercise, when CHOoxidation was greater than Glc Rd, the net oxidation of glycogen wascalculated as the difference: CHO oxidation  Glc Rd. Duringmild-intensity cycling, the respiratory exchange ratio was similaracross groups (0.87 ± 0.02, 0.85 ± 0.02, and 0.86 ± 0.01 inL, O, and NIDDM subjects, respectively), and CHO oxidation accountedfor one-half of total energy expenditure during exercise. Glc Rdincreased during exercise and was greatest in subjects with NIDDM (3.0 ± 0.2, 2.9 ± 0.2, and 4.5 ± 0.4 ml ^· kg^{1 ·} min¹in L, O, and NIDDM subjects, respectively,P < 0.05), yet Glc Rd wasless than CHO oxidation during exercise, indicating net oxidation ofglycogen. Glycogen oxidation was greater in L and O than in NIDDMsubjects (3.4 ± 1.0, 2.5 ± 0.9, and 1.7 ± 0.8 ml ^· kg^{1 ·} min¹;P < 0.05). In summary, duringmild-intensity exercise, NIDDM subjects have an increased Glc Rd and adecreased oxidation of muscle glycogen.

     

Metabolic and performance responses during endurance exercise after high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals

We studied the effects of preexercise mealcomposition on metabolic and performance-related variables duringendurance exercise. Eight well-trained cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake65.0 to 83.5 ml · kg¹ · min¹)were studied on three occasions after an overnight fast. They weregiven isoenergetic meals containing carbohydrate (CHO), protein (P),and fat (F) in the following amounts (g/70 kg body wt):high-carbohydrate meal, 215 CHO, 26 P, 3 F; high-fat meal, 50 CHO, 14 P, 80 F. On the third occasion subjects were studied after an overnightfast. Four hours after consumption of the meal, subjects startedexercise for 90 min at 70% of their maximal oxygen uptake, followed by a 10-km time trial. The high-carbohydrate meal compared with the high-fat meal resulted in significant decreases(P < 0.05) in blood glucose, plasmanonesterified fatty acids, plasma glycerol, plasmachylomicron-triacylglycerol, and plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations during exercise. This was accompanied by anincrease in plasma insulin (P < 0.01 vs. no meal), plasma epinephrine, and plasma growth hormoneconcentrations (each P < 0.05 vs.either of the other conditions) during exercise. Despite these large differences in substrate and hormone concentrations in plasma, substrate oxidation during the 90-min exercise period was similar inthe three trials, and there were no differences in performance on thetime trial. These results suggest that, although the availability offatty acids and other substrates in plasma can be markedly altered bydietary means, the pattern of substrate oxidation during enduranceexercise is remarkably resistant to alteration.