Watching synchronous mitochondrial respiration in the retina and its instability in a mouse model of macular degeneration

MMitochondrial function declines with age and in some diseases, but we have been unable to analyze this in vivo. Here, we optically examine retinal mitochondrial function as well as choroidal oxygenation and hemodynamics in aging C57 and complement factor H (CFH−/−) mice, proposed models of macular degeneration which suffer early retinal mitochondrial decline. In young C57s mitochondrial populations respire in coupled oscillatory behavior in cycles of ~ 8 min, which is phase linked to choroidal oscillatory hemodynamics. In aging C57s, the oscillations are less regular being ~ 14 min and more dissociated from choroidal hemodynamics. The mitochondrial oscillatory cycles are extended in CFH−/− mice being ~ 16 min and are further dissociated from choroidal hemodynamics. Mitochondrial decline occurs before age-related changes to choroidal vasculature, hence, is the likely origin of oscillatory disruption in hemodynamics. This technology offers a non-invasive technique to detect early retinal disease and its relationship to blood oxygenation in vivo and in real time

Mitochondrial decline in the ageing old world primate retina: Little evidence for difference between the centre and periphery

Mitochondrial decline is a key feature of ageing. The retina has more mitochondria than any other tissue and ages rapidly. To understand human retinal ageing it is critical to examine old world primates that have similar visual systems to humans, and do so across central and peripheral regions, as there is evidence for early central decline. Hence, we examine mitochondrial metrics in young and ageing Macaca fascicularis retinae. In spite of reduced ATP with age, primate mitochondrial complex activity did not decline. But mitochondrial membrane potentials were reduced significantly, and concomitantly, mitochondrial membrane permeability increased. The mitochondrial marker Tom20 declined significantly, consistent with reduced mitochondria number, while VDAC, a voltage dependent anion channel and diffusion pore associated with apoptosis increased significantly. In spite of these clear age-related changes, there was almost no evidence for regional differences between the centre and the periphery in these mitochondrial metrics. Primate cones do not die with age, but many showed marked structural decline with vacuous spaces in proximal inner segments normally occupied by endoplasmic reticulum (ER), that regulate mitochondrial autophagy. In many peripheral cones, ER was displaced by the nucleus that transposed across the outer limiting membrane and could become embedded in mitochondrial populations. These data are consistent with significant changes in retinal mitochondria in old world primate ageing but provide little if any evidence that aged central mitochondria suffer more than those in the periphery

Fundamental differences in patterns of retinal ageing between primates and mice

Photoreceptors have high metabolic demands and age rapidly, undermining visual function. We base our understanding mainly on ageing mice where elevated inflammation, extracellular deposition, including that of amyloid beta, and rod and cone photoreceptor loss occur, but cones are not lost in ageing primate although their function declines, revealing that primate and mouse age differently. We examine ageing primate retinae and show elevated stress but low inflammation. However, aged primates have a >70% reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and a decrease in cytochrome c oxidase. There is a shift in cone mitochondrial positioning and glycolytic activity increases. Bruch’s membrane thickens but unlike in mice, amyloid beta is absent. Hence, reduced ATP may explain cone functional decline in ageing but their retained presence offers the possibility of functional restoration if they can be fuelled appropriately to restore cellular function. This is important because as humans we largely depend on cone function to see and are rarely fully dark adapted. Presence of limited aged inflammation and amyloid beta deposition question some of the therapeutic approaches taken to resolve problems of retinal ageing in humans and the possible lack of success in clinical trials in macular degeneration that have targeted inflammatory agents

Combined Effect of Graded Thera-Band and Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis Post-Mastectomy

PURPOSE: The main aim of the trial was to assess the combined impact of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder pain, physical function, and quality of life (QoL) in post-mastectomy adhesive capsulitis (AC). METHODS: Seventy females with unilateral post-mastectomy AC partook in the trial. Participants were subdivided equally into two groups at random. Both groups obtained the traditional physical therapy program; in addition, the intervention group received graded Thera-Band exercises for shoulder muscles and scapular stabilization exercises 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Range of motion (ROM) and muscle power of shoulder were assessed by digital goniometer and handheld dynamometer, respectively. Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was utilized for assessment of shoulder function and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain measurement while short-form (SF-36) for QoL assessment. All evaluation data was recorded prior to the trial and at the eighth week of interventions for both groups. RESULTS: All participants achieved improvements in shoulder ROM, muscle power, pain, and all aspects of QoL; however, higher statistical improvements were reported in all measurements with respect to strengthening exercises group (p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises in post-mastectomy AC rehabilitation program has significant benefits in shoulder function and patients\u27 QoL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05311839

Impacts of sex steroids and aromatase inhibitor on performances, carcass characteristics and gonadal histology of broiler chickens slaughtered at different ages

This experiment was established to evaluate the influence of synthetic steroid hormone and aromatase inhibitor on performance, carcass characteristics, hormonal profile and gonadal structure of broiler chickens slaughtered at two different ages. A total of 360 Cobb Avian48 chicks were sexed and distributed randomly into three groups: Tam10 group; birds received Tamoxifen10mg (Tamfen 10 mg@) orally at a level of 10 mg/kg body weight daily from the 3rd till the 9th day of age; BOL group: birds injected intramuscularly with Boldenone undecylenate (BOLD-GAN@ 0.1 mg/kg) at the 5th and the 9th day of age; and Control group. BOL injection or Tam supplementation improved performance traits compared with the control group. Although Tam positive effect appeared early before the 5th week of age, the BOL effect was delayed to the 6th week. BOL injection improved carcass characteristics of both sexes at both 5 and 6 weeks slaughtering ages. Regardless of treatment effect, the mortality% was higher in the late weeks of age than in the early weeks. Moreover, BOL treatment increased comb% compared with control and Tam treatments. Generally, males had significantly higher testosterone levels and lower oestrogen levels than females. Males treated with Boldenone had the highest testosterone level, although testosterone levels did not differ considerably among females of the various groups. BOL treatment females had the lowest oestrogen level. Both Tam10 and Boldenone had adverse effects on testicular and ovarian histology, affecting the typical structures. Finally, we concluded that the anabolic effect of Tam10 may be achieved in griller broilers production without changing the sex hormones assay. Although Boldenone achieved an anabolic effect without changing blood sex hormone levels, this effect is induced early with females and delayed with males, which prolongs the marketing period. The goal is to shorten this period. Therefore, this material can only be used with the possibility of separating females from males to be used with females only