Effect of resveratrol on alcohol-induced mortality and liver lesions in mice

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol is a polyphenol with important antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. We investigated the effect of resveratrol on alcohol-induced mortality and liver lesions in mice. METHODS: Mice were randomly distributed into four groups (control, resveratrol-treated control, alcohol and resveratrol-treated alcohol). Chronic alcohol intoxication was induced by progressively administering alcohol in drinking water up to 40% v/v. The mice administered resveratrol received 10 mg/ml in drinking water. The animals had free access to standard diet. Blood levels were determined for transaminases, IL-1 and TNF-α. A histological evaluation was made of liver damage, and survival among the animals was recorded. RESULTS: Transaminase concentration was significantly higher in the alcohol group than in the rest of the groups (p < 0.05). IL-1 levels were significantly reduced in the alcohol plus resveratrol group compared with the alcohol group (p < 0.05). TNF-α was not detected in any group. Histologically, the liver lesions were more severe in the alcohol group, though no significant differences between groups were observed. Mortality in the alcohol group was 78% in the seventh week, versus 22% in the alcohol plus resveratrol group (p < 0.001). All mice in the alcohol group died before the ninth week. CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that resveratrol reduces mortality and liver damage in mice

Unravelling the Plant Cell Cycle in Nematode Induced Feeding Sites

Cell cycle activation is a key component of host plant manipulation by sedentary nematodes. It is generally believed that root-knot nematodes induce giant cells by repeated cycles of acytokinetic mitosis accompanied by endocycles while cyst nematodes induce extra rounds of DNA synthesis. Microscopic expression analysis of genes that encode key regulators of the cell cycle and the use of cell cycle inhibitors demonstrate that endoreduplication cycles may play a role in both giant cell and syncytium formation, while mitosis is essential for giant cell development and syncytium expansion (via fusion of neighbouring cells). When mitosis is blocked, gall development is completely inhibited, indicating that cycles of endoreduplication or other means of DNA amplification are insufficient to drive giant cell expansion. DNA synthesis is required for both gall and syncytium development. With the current knowledge available on the plant cell cycle, and particularly the genes involved in endoreduplication, their specific role in feeding site development can be determined more precisely to provide insight on how cell cycle processes underlie development of both giant cells and syncytia. It is still unknown whether signals from the nematode directly induce the sophisticated changes in the cell cycle that occur in developing feeding sites. Increasing knowledge on nematode secreted proteins active during parasitism will facilitate the identification of possible triggers of the plant cell cycle during this complex plant-pathogen interaction