oxidase-deficient rats

Sulfite has both an endogenous and an exogenous provenance in the mammalian tissues. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sulfite on macrophages functions in normal or sulfite oxidase deficient rats. Rats were divided into eight groups; (1) control group, (2) sulfite group (the rats received sodium meta bi-sulfite (25 mg/kg) in drinking water for 6 weeks), (3) vitamin E group (the rats received Vit E (50 mg/kg) by gavage for 6 weeks), (4) sulfite group + Vit E, (5)sulfite oxidase deficient group (the rats received high-W/Mo-deficient diet. The activity of sulfite oxidase was reduced in rats maintained on the high-W/Mo-deficient diet during the first 21 days of treatment. After the sulfite-oxidase deficiency, the rats continued to receive high-W/Mo-deficient diet for 6 weeks.), (6) sulfite + sulfite oxidase deficient group, (7) Vit E + sulfite oxidase deficient group, and (8) sulfile + Vit E + sulfite oxidase deficient group. Sulfite caused a significant increase in phagocytic and chemotactic activities of peritoneal macrophages. In sulfite-oxidase deficient rats, the increase in phagocytic and chemotactic activities in peritoneal macrophages after sulfite intake was found more than the control rats. Vit E supplementation prevented sulfite induced increase in macrophages functions. These results show that the macrophage functions are sensitive to sulfite intake. The effect of sulfite on macrophage functions may be related to reactive oxygen species. Because Vit E administration was able to modulate significantly sulfite-induced changes in the functions of peritoneal macrophages. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.C1 Akdeniz Univ, Dept Physiol, Fac Med, TR-07070 Antalya, Turkey.Pamukkale Univ, Dept Physiol, Fac Med, TR-2020 Denizli, Turkey.Akdeniz Univ, Dept Biophys, Fac Med, TR-07070 Antalya, Turkey

Cadmium-induced changes in epithelial cells of the rat stomach

WOS: 000165101700007PubMed ID: 11097472The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the function and fine structure of the gastric mucosa following exposure to high cadmium (Cd) for 30 d in rats. in the present study, control animals were fed with normal food and tap water and the remaining animals received Cd (15 ppm CdCl2) in drinking water for the same period. Receiving Cd for 30 d increased the mean blood (p < 0.01) and mucosa (p < 0.001) Cd levels, while decreased mucus thickness, mucin content (p < 0.01) significantly. Basal acid output fell significantly (p < 0.01). Light and electron microscopic examination revealed the following: (1) Cd decreases the mean number of surface mucous, isthmic-neck, parietal cells (p < 0.05) and chief cells (p < 0.001) per unit from the control value and (2) in some cells of zymogenic unit, the Cd-induced alterations were characterized with dilated Golgi cisternae, focal enlarged endoplsmic reticulum, broken tubulovesicles, degenerated mitochondria, dense nuclei, as well as lysosomal structures. We concluded that Cd augments the elimination rate of zymogenic unit's cells by increasing the alteration rate, and the reduced basal acid output, mucin content, and mucus thickness can be explained easily with the loss of zymogenic unit's cell population

Neutrophils are immune cells preferentially targeted by retinoic acid in elderly subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The immune system gradually deteriorates with age and nutritional status is a major factor in immunosenescence. Of the many nutritional factors implicated in age-related immune dysfunction, vitamin A may be a good candidate, since vitamin A concentrations classically decrease during aging whereas it may possess important immunomodulatory properties via its active metabolites, the retinoic acids. This prompted us to investigate the immune response induced by retinoids in adults and elderly healthy subjects. Before and after oral supplementation with 13cis retinoic acid (0.5 mg/kg/day during 28 days), whole blood cells were phenotyped, and functions of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) were investigated by flow cytometry and ELISA tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In both young adults (<it>n </it>= 20, 25 ± 4 years) and older subjects (<it>n </it>= 20, 65 ± 4 years), retinoic acid supplementation had no effect on the distribution of leukocyte subpopulations or on the functions of PBMC (Il-2 and sIl-2R production, membrane expression of CD25). Concerning PMN, retinoic acid induced an increase in both spontaneous migration and cell surface expression of CD11b in the two different age populations, whereas bactericidal activity and phagocytosis remained unchanged.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated that retinoic acid induces the same intensity of immune response between adult and older subjects, and more specifically affects PMN functions, i.e. adhesion and migration, than PBMC functions.</p