Influence of myocardial infarction on changes in the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor in the rat prostate

Angiotensin II (AngII) is the biologically active peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Tissue- based, local RAS has been identified in the prostate, testis, epididymis and coagulating glands. Experimental and clinical studies have consistently shown that myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with activation of the systemic RAS with increased concentration of angiotensin peptides in the blood and changes in expression of angiotensin receptors (AT). Changes in angiotensin receptors in the renal and cardiovascular system after MI are well recognized, but the effects of MI influence on changes in other tissue like the prostate gland are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of myocardial infarction on angiotensin receptor protein and mRNA expression in the rat prostate gland. MI model was established in Wistar rats by ligating the left coronary artery (modified Selye method). The levels of AT1a-b and AT2 receptor mRNAs and proteins were measured in the rat prostate. Our study demonstrates tissue-specific changes in AT1a-b and AT2 receptor expression after myocardial infarction. The results show that MI has a strong influence on the expression of angiotensin receptor type AT1 in the prostate at the protein and mRNA level. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol. 49, No. 3, 497–503

Challenges related to the production of "artificial meat"

The article discusses number of issues related to the production of the socalled „artificial meat”, from biological and ethical problems and challenges that biotechnology has to face when changing the scale of production from laboratory to small or large industrial scale. Issues related to environmental protection in the context of climate change, the use of electrical energy, water resources and CO2 production were also discussed. The balance of profits and losses made so far does not give grounds for full admiration for the idea of artificial meat, the more so as consumers and nutrition specialists also have a lot of reservations in accepting new food. Nevertheless, visions of politicians, including European Parliament, are ahead of time and lead to the legal regulations of the artificial meat

Can artificial meat save the humankind?

For nearly a decade, the public has been informed about new, innovative ideas for producing meat in a test tube. “Artificial meat” if you prefer, “laboratory meat” or “in vitro meat”, appears in these messages as an alternative to beef, mutton, pork, poultry and even aquaculture. An ethical, safe, and ecological alternative, and the monstrous costs of the first portions of such artificial meat are explained by the assurance that the prototype must always be expensive, and as production and the approval of the technology increases, prices will become more affordable for the average consumer. In this article, which is a follow-up to our previous text (ŻW, 2020, 95, 74-80), we present the logic of a start-up business interested in the technology of producing artificial meat and its recent noticeable drift towards meat substitutes of plant origin rather than in vitro cultures. In addition, we discuss selected aspects related to the safety of both the consumer and the natural environment. The article concludes with a statement made by French scientist at INRAE Jean-Louis Peyraud in 2017: ”A world without animal husbandry is just a utopia in the short, medium, and long term. It is high time we went back to a more realistic, evidence-based approach.

Entomophagy - let’s eat insects?

Edible insects, apart from Europe and North America, are a common component of the daily diet worldwide. Problems with feeding the dramatically growing world population are directing researchers’ attention to the search for new sources of animal protein. Many studies are heading towards the production of so-called artificial meat, others relate to adequate modifications of plant proteins. Edible insect can also be a good source of animal protein. The new EU regulations categorize edible insects as novel foods, which opens up the possibility of its growing, processing and consumption. The article discusses issues of industrial breeding of edible insects and a number of concerns related to the safety (mainly microbiological) of food produced from edible insects

Consumer Safety Awareness – How the Labelling Can Protect Health of Gluten-Intolerant People

Recent years have witnessed a growing number of people who are gluten-intolerant and whose diet cannot contain gluten (celiac disease, allergy to gluten and gluten-intolerance). Consequently, the consumers’ interest in non-gluten diet is progressively increasing. Gluten is a mixture of prolamins and glutelins, present in the cereal grains: wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin) and barley (hordein). Wide use of gluten in the food industry results from its positive influence on products’ consistency, taste and moisture preserving. Since the only effective method of gluten-related diseases treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, this study examines the market of the gluten-free carbohydrate products. A growing desire to avoid gluten is changing the whole food industry. The task was to analyze the labelling correctness of selected nutriments suitable for gluten-intolerant people. The analysis was based on the current EU and national regulations. Besides of common EU regulations and directives dedicated to food production sector and food safety, we can find specified law regulating the composition and labelling of foodstuffs suitable for people intolerant to gluten. In total, 100 food products were subjected to the analysis, divided into 5 groups of gluten-free carbohydrate products (flours, groats and rice, pastas, snacks and sweets, breads). Summarizing our research the correct labelling of analysed products was present in all examined groups. 97% of the items were labelled by a text stating they were gluten-free products. Also, the composition of the assortment did not give rise to objections to their gluten-free characteristics. 86% of the analysed gluten-free food was produced from natural free-gluten ingredients, whereas 14% was made of low-gluten wheat ingredients. 78% of the examined items were gluten-free products, bearing both text and graphic labelling as gluten-free products. 63% out of this group were products with the AOECS (Association of European Celiac Societies) certificate for safe gluten-free foodstuff

Isolation_RNA_PONE-D-17-02658.pdf

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in the gene expression profiles of selected tissues in two most popular goat’s breeds in Poland: Polish White Improved (PWI) and Polish Fawn Improved (PFI). Three different types of tissue samples were selected: somatic cells isolated from goats’ milk (MSC), milk fat globules (MFG) and peripheral nuclear blood cells (PBNC

Influence of myocardial infarction on changes in the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor in the rat prostate

Angiotensin II (AngII) is the biologically active peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Tissue- based, local RAS has been identified in the prostate, testis, epididymis and coagulating glands. Experimental and clinical studies have consistently shown that myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with activation of the systemic RAS with increased concentration of angiotensin peptides in the blood and changes in expression of angiotensin receptors (AT). Changes in angiotensin receptors in the renal and cardiovascular system after MI are well recognized, but the effects of MI influence on changes in other tissue like the prostate gland are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of myocardial infarction on angiotensin receptor protein and mRNA expression in the rat prostate gland. MI model was established in Wistar rats by ligating the left coronary artery (modified Selye method). The levels of AT1a-b and AT2 receptor mRNAs and proteins were measured in the rat prostate. Our study demonstrates tissue-specific changes in AT1a-b and AT2 receptor expression after myocardial infarction. The results show that MI has a strong influence on the expression of angiotensin receptor type AT1 in the prostate at the protein and mRNA level. (<i>Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol. 49, No. 3, 497–503</i>