Alcohol deters the outgrowth of serotonergic neurons at midgestation

We have previously demonstrated that treatment of pregnant C57BL mice from gestation days 8 to 14 with alcohol with 20% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) reduced the number of serotonin (5-HT) neurons and retarded their migration in the fetal brains. In the present study, we obtained similar results with the use of 25% EDC and extended our previous findings by demonstrating that besides the alteration of the number of 5-HT neurons, prenatal alcohol exposure also affects their projecting fibers in their early development. Pregnant C57BL mice were divided into an alcohol-exposed (ALC) group given 25% EDC (4.49%, v/v), a pair-fed group to the ethanol-fed group (PF) and a chow-fed group (Chow). The PF and Chow groups served as controls. Our results showed that in the ALC group, when compared with the control groups, prenatal alcohol exposure with 25% EDC reduced the number of 5-HT-immunoreactive neurons in both the median and dorsal raphe, and the amount of 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). The diameter of the 5-HT-immunoreactive MFB was also reduced as a result of treatment. No significant differences of the above parameters were found between the PF and Chow groups. The previous and present work confirmed that alcohol reduces the normal formation and growth of 5-HT neurons in the midbrain. Furthermore, the projection of 5-HT fibers, in density as well as in distribution, is reduced in the major trajectory bundle. This may affect the amount of 5-HT fibers available to the forebrain. In light of the importance of the 5-HT system in brain development, alcohol may affect the growth of the forebrain through its effect on 5-HT signaling.     

Biochemical and structural comparative study between bird and mammal pancreatic colipases

Three colipases were purified from pancreas of two birds (ostrich and turkey) and one mammal (dromedary). After acidic and/or heat treatment and precipitation by sulfate ammonium and then ethanol, cofactors were purified by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration followed by ion-exchange chromatography first on Mono S and then on Mono Q. One molecular form was obtained from each species with a molecular mass of approximately 10 kDa. Cofactors were not glycosylated. The N-terminal sequences of the three purified cofactors showed high sequence homology. A 90 amino acid sequence of the ostrich cofactor was established based on peptide sequences from four different digests of the denaturated protein using trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, or staphylococcal protease. This sequence exhibited a high degree of homology with chicken and mammal cofactors. Bile salt-inhibited pancreatic lipases from five species were activated to variable extents by colipases from bird and mammal origins. The bird pancreatic lipase-colipase system appears to be functionally similar to homologous lipolytic systems from higher mammals. Our comparative study showed that mammal colipase presents a lower activation level toward bird lipases than the bird counterpart. Three-dimensional modeling of ostrich colipase suggested a structural explanation of this fact.     

Structural and electrical properties of paper-polyaniline composite

Conducting polymers have generated a great deal of interest because of their physical and chemical properties as well as their potential application in industry particularly in packaging applications. However one of short comings of most conducting polymer is that they are often formed as intractable films that are difficult to process. To overcome this problem we have incorporated conducting polymer, namely polyaniline into sheets of paper in order to create new composite material which combine the universal properties of paper product with the chemical and electrically conducting properties of the conducting polymer. Paper conducting polymer composite have been prepared by polymerizing aniline directly onto the paper sheet using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as an oxidant at different temperatures. The prepared composite was characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The thermo-oxidative degradation was studied by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA); electrical conductivities measurements of the composites were significantly increased over those of the precursor paper.     

Grafting of cucumber as a means to minimize copper toxicity

The aim of the current work was to determine whether grafting could improve copper (Cu) tolerance of cucumber, and to study the changes induced by the rootstock in the shoot growth at agronomical and physiological levels. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine yield, growth, fruit quality, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, electrolyte leakage, mineral composition and assimilate partitioning of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. ‘Akito’), either ungrafted or grafted onto the commercial rootstock ‘Shintoza’ (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne × Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) and cultured in nutrient film technique (NFT). Plants were supplied with nutrient solutions having three levels of Cu concentration [0.3 (control), 47, or 94 μM]. Significant depression of yield, shoot and root biomass production, and fruit quality (low fruit pH, and high Cu content) in Cu treated cucumber plants was observed, and this effect varied as a function of Cu concentration in NFT solution. The relative yield of cucumber decreased by ≈3.4% for each unit of increase in leaf tissue Cu concentrations above the threshold value (7.8 μg g⁻¹). At the two higher Cu concentrations (47 and 94 μM Cu), the percentages of yield, shoot and root biomass weight reductions were significantly lower in grafted plants in comparison to those of the ungrafted plants. Excessive Cu, especially at 94 μM Cu, inhibited photosynthesis, pigment synthesis, and membrane integrity. The Cu-related reductions in net assimilation, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were more severe in ungrafted plants in comparison with those grafted on 'Shintoza’. The percentage of electrolyte leakage was significantly higher in ungrafted plants especially those with severe Cu toxicity (94 μM Cu). The accumulation of Cu in leaf tissue at 47 and 94 μM Cu, with respect to control, were significantly lower in grafted plants (138 and 181%, respectively) in comparison to that of ungrafted plants (about 235 and 392%, respectively). Significant reduction of macro- (N, K, Ca and Mg) and micro-elements (Fe, Mn and Zn) in cucumber leaf tissue was found under moderate and severe Cu stresses especially on ungrafted plants. The improved crop performance of grafted plants was attributed to their strong capacity to inhibit Cu accumulation in the aerial parts and to maintain a better plant nutritional status.     

Evaluation of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) as a protein source for broilers

Male broiler chicks (n=120) were fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 or 15% dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) from the 12th day up to the end of fattening (day 35). During this period feed intake, weight gain and excreta quality (pH, DM) were tested. A digestibility trial was carried out on four birds from each group on the last five days of the experiment to determine the digestibility of organic matter and CP of the different diets. The protein digestibility was evaluated using three different methods; uric acid correction, alpha-amino-N and amino acid-N. There were no significant effects of increased DDGS levels on feed intake, weight gain, excreta quality or digestibility of CP and organic matter. However, feed conversion showed a tendency to decline at the highest DDGS level (15%). Digestibility of DDGS protein was estimated to be 77%. There was no significant difference between uric acid and alpha-amino-N method, but both methods had a significantly lower CP digestibility than amino acid-N. The present results indicate that DDGS can be used as a protein source in diets for fattening broilers up to 10-15%.     

Phylogenetic and Metabolic Diversity of Planctomycetes from Anaerobic, Sulfide- and Sulfur-Rich Zodletone Spring, Oklahoma

We investigated the phylogenetic diversity and metabolic capabilities of members of the phylum Planctomycetes in the anaerobic, sulfide-saturated sediments of a mesophilic spring (Zodletone Spring) in southwestern Oklahoma. Culture-independent analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences generated using Planctomycetes-biased primer pairs suggested that an extremely diverse community of Planctomycetes is present at the spring. Although sequences that are phylogenetically affiliated with cultured heterotrophic Planctomycetes were identified, the majority of the sequences belonged to several globally distributed, as-yet-uncultured Planctomycetes lineages. Using complex organic media (aqueous extracts of the spring sediments and rumen fluid), we isolated two novel strains that belonged to the Pirellula-Rhodopirellula-Blastopirellula clade within the Planctomycetes. The two strains had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, and their closest relatives were isolates from Kiel Fjord (Germany), Keauhou Beach (HI), a marine aquarium, and tissues of marine organisms (Aplysina sp. sponges and postlarvae of the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon). The closest recognized cultured relative of strain Zi62 was Blastopirellula marina (93.9% sequence similarity). Detailed characterization of strain Zi62 revealed its ability to reduce elemental sulfur to sulfide under anaerobic conditions, as well as its ability to produce acids from sugars; both characteristics may potentially allow strain Zi62 to survive and grow in the anaerobic, sulfide- and sulfur-rich environment at the spring source. Overall, this work indicates that anaerobic metabolic abilities are widely distributed among all major Planctomycetes lineages and suggests carbohydrate fermentation and sulfur reduction as possible mechanisms employed by heterotrophic Planctomycetes for growth and survival under anaerobic conditions.     

Targeting PI3K/p-Akt/eNOS,Nrf2/HO-1, and NF-κB/p53 signaling pathways by angiotensin 1–7 protects against liver injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion in rats

The liver is an important organ, and hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury is a frequent pathophysiological process that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, our study aimed to investigate the effect of targeting PI3K/p-Akt/eNOS (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/phospho-protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase), Nrf2/HO-1 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2/heme oxygenase-1), and NF-κB/p53 (nuclear factor-κB/tumor protein 53) signaling pathways by using angiotensin (1–7) [ang-(1–7)] against hepatic injury induced by IR. Thirty-two male rats were included in sham group, ang-(1–7)-treated group, hepatic IR group, and hepatic IR group treated with ang-(1–7). The levels of hepatic ang-(1–7), angiotensin II (Ang II), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), HO-1, malondialdehyde (MDA), PI3K, and p-Akt were assessed. The expressions of eNOS and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) in the liver were determined. Histological assessment and immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB, p53, and Nrf2 were carried out. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum were estimated. Results showed that administration of ang-(1–7) to hepatic IR rats led to significant amelioration of hepatic damage through a histological evaluation that was associated with significant upregulation of the expressions of PI3K/p-Akt/eNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 with downregulation of NF-κB/p53 signaling pathways. In conclusion, PI3K/p-Akt/eNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways are involved in the protective effects of ang-(1–7) against hepatic damage induced by IR. Therefore, ang-(1–7) can be used to prevent hepatic IR, which occurs in certain conditions such as liver transplantation, hemorrhagic shock, and severe infection.