Plasma progesterone concentrations in Toggenburg goats submitted to estrous synchronization reusing autoclaved intravaginal progesterone devices.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma P4 concentration in Toggenburg goats receiving autoclaved progesterone devices for estrous synchronization. Progesterone analysis allows us to infer that the autoclaving process does not influence progesterone availability and so this technique can be a simple and valuable tool to reduce sanitary risks of disease transmission without alterating fertility in goats. [Concentrações de progesterona plasmática em cabras da raça Toggenburg submetidas à sincronização de estro reutilizando dispositivos intravaginais de progesterona autoclavados]

Superstructure based on β-CD self-assembly induced by a small guest molecule

The size, shape and surface chemistry of nanoparticles play an important role in cellular interaction. Thus, the main objective of the present study was the determination of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) self-assembly thermodynamic parameters and its structure, aiming to use these assemblies as a possible controlled drug release system. Light scattering measurements led us to obtain the β-CD's critical aggregation concentration (cac) values, and consequently the thermodynamic parameters of the β-CD spontaneous self-assembly in aqueous solution: Δ[subscript agg]G[superscript o] = −16.31 kJ mol[superscript −1], Δ[subscript agg]H[superscript o] = −26.48 kJ mol[superscript −1] and TΔ[subscript agg]S[superscript o] = −10.53 kJ mol[superscript −1] at 298.15 K. Size distribution of the self-assembled nanoparticles below and above cac was 1.5 nm and 60–120 nm, respectively. The number of β-CD molecules per cluster and the second virial coefficient were identified through Debye's plot and molecular dynamic simulations proposed the three-fold assembly for this system below cac. Ampicillin (AMP) was used as a drug model in order to investigate the key role of the guest molecule in the self-assembly process and the β-CD:AMP supramolecular system was studied in solution, aiming to determine the structure of the supramolecular aggregate. Results obtained in solution indicated that the β-CD's cac was not affected by adding AMP. Moreover, different complex stoichiometries were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments.Brazil. National Institute in Science and Technology in Nanobiopharmaceutics (NanoBiofar) (CNPq/MCT/FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant 1-R01-DE016516-03)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Process 4597-08-7)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (CEX APQ-00498/08

Allelopathic action of some weed extracts on rice germination

O efeito do extrato aquoso de três plantas daninhas, Cynodon dactylon (l.)Pers., Cyperus rotundus l. e Sorghum halepense (l.) Pers. sobre a germinação e o crescimento de plântulas de arroz (Oryza salina L. cv. IAC-165) foi estudado, com a finalidade de investigar a sensibilidade do arroz aos efeitos alelopáticos dessas plantas. Foram utilizados, na preparação dos extratos, raizes de Cynodon daclylon, tubérculos de Cyperus rolundus: e riomas de Sorglun halepense, os quais foram homoneizados em solução aquosa, submetidos a filtração e centrifugação. O sobrenadante foi aplicado no substrato de germinação das sementes, verificando-se, aos sete dias após a se meadura, que apenas os extratos de Cy-nodon daetylon e Sorghum halepense afetaram a porcentagem de germinação das sementes de arroz. Entretanto, o crescimento da radícula e da parte aérea das plântulas foi prejudicado pelos três extratos testados, sendo o efeito mais drástico causado pelo extrato de Cyperus, retundus.The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible allelopathic effects of Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus and Sorghum halepense on seed germination of Oryza sativa cv. IAC-165. Extracts from roots of Cynodon dactylon and Sorghum halepense and from tubers of Cyperus rotundas were used to evaluate the effects on rice seed germination. Aqueous solution of these organs, obtained by homogenization, filtration and centrifugation, were introduced on Petri dishes containing rice seeds. The evaluation of germination and initial growth showed a strong negative allelopathic effect of all three weeds studied

Allelopathic action of some weed extracts on rice germination

O efeito do extrato aquoso de três plantas daninhas, Cynodon dactylon (l.)Pers., Cyperus rotundus l. e Sorghum halepense (l.) Pers. sobre a germinação e o crescimento de plântulas de arroz (Oryza salina L. cv. IAC-165) foi estudado, com a finalidade de investigar a sensibilidade do arroz aos efeitos alelopáticos dessas plantas. Foram utilizados, na preparação dos extratos, raizes de Cynodon daclylon, tubérculos de Cyperus rolundus: e riomas de Sorglun halepense, os quais foram homoneizados em solução aquosa, submetidos a filtração e centrifugação. O sobrenadante foi aplicado no substrato de germinação das sementes, verificando-se, aos sete dias após a se meadura, que apenas os extratos de Cy-nodon daetylon e Sorghum halepense afetaram a porcentagem de germinação das sementes de arroz. Entretanto, o crescimento da radícula e da parte aérea das plântulas foi prejudicado pelos três extratos testados, sendo o efeito mais drástico causado pelo extrato de Cyperus, retundus.The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible allelopathic effects of Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus and Sorghum halepense on seed germination of Oryza sativa cv. IAC-165. Extracts from roots of Cynodon dactylon and Sorghum halepense and from tubers of Cyperus rotundas were used to evaluate the effects on rice seed germination. Aqueous solution of these organs, obtained by homogenization, filtration and centrifugation, were introduced on Petri dishes containing rice seeds. The evaluation of germination and initial growth showed a strong negative allelopathic effect of all three weeds studied

5-oxoETE triggers nociception in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome through MAS-related G protein-coupled receptor D.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by chronic abdominal pain concurrent with altered bowel habit. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites are increased in abundance in IBS and are implicated in the alteration of sensation to mechanical stimuli, which is defined as visceral hypersensitivity. We sought to quantify PUFA metabolites in patients with IBS and evaluate their role in pain. Quantification of PUFA metabolites by mass spectrometry in colonic biopsies showed an increased abundance of 5-oxoeicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxoETE) only in biopsies taken from patients with IBS with predominant constipation (IBS-C). Local administration of 5-oxoETE to mice induced somatic and visceral hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli without causing tissue inflammation. We found that 5-oxoETE directly acted on both human and mouse sensory neurons as shown by lumbar splanchnic nerve recordings and Ca2+ imaging of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. We showed that 5-oxoETE selectively stimulated nonpeptidergic, isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive DRG neurons through a phospholipase C (PLC)- and pertussis toxin-dependent mechanism, suggesting that the effect was mediated by a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). The MAS-related GPCR D (Mrgprd) was found in mouse colonic DRG afferents and was identified as being implicated in the noxious effects of 5-oxoETE. Together, these data suggest that 5-oxoETE, a potential biomarker of IBS-C, induces somatic and visceral hyperalgesia without inflammation in an Mrgprd-dependent manner. Thus, 5-oxoETE may play a pivotal role in the abdominal pain associated with IBS-C.BBSRC BB/R006210/1 to James R F Hockley and Ewan St John Smith Rosetrees 834 Postdoctoral Grant (A1296) awarded to James R F Hockley and Ewan St John Smit