Development of products with Shiitake mushroom: chemical, physical and sensory characterization

Shiitake mushrooms are much appreciated and therefore their production has increased. However, an important quantity of by-products and residues, are also generated and which are considered as waste materials. In this way, the aim of this work was to develop new foods incorporating shiitake mushrooms that do not comply with standards for commercialization, thus providing additional sources of income for the farmers. For this, a filling with mushroom was produced for rissoles and pies, and the final products were analysed for their chemical composition, colour, texture and sensorial attributes. The results showed that the shiitake products presented an interesting chemical composition, rich in protein and minerals, and poor in salt. It was also observed that the frying operation induced more colour changes in the rissoles than the oven baking of the pies. The textural measurements indicated that the rissoles were much softer when compared to the pies, being also more cohesive and elastic. The sensory panel attributed high scores to both products (around 4.5, on a scale from 1 to 5), thus indicating that these may constitute an additional source of income to the farmers and at the same time reducing waste.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Neonatally induced mild diabetes: influence on development, behavior and reproductive function of female Wistar rats

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud Neonatal STZ treatment induces a state of mild hyperglycemia in adult rats that disrupts metabolism and maternal/fetal interactions. The aim of this study was investigate the effect of neonatal STZ treatment on the physical development, behavior, and reproductive function of female Wistar rats from infancy to adulthood.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud At birth, litters were assigned either to a Control (subcutaneous (s.c.) citrate buffer, n = 10) or STZ group, (streptozotocin (STZ) - 100 mg/kg-sc, n = 6). Blood glucose levels were measured on postnatal days (PND) 35, 84 and 120. In Experiment 1 body weight, length and the appearance of developmental milestones such as eye and vaginal opening were monitored. To assess the relative contribution of the initial and long term effects of STZ treatment this group was subdivided based on blood glucose levels recorded on PND 120: STZ hyperglycemic (between 120 and 300 mg/dl) and STZ normoglycemic (under 120 mg/dl). Behavioral activity was assessed in an open field on PND 21 and 75. In Experiment 2 estrous cyclicity, sexual behavior and circulating gonadotropin, ovarian steroid, and insulin levels were compared between control and STZ-hyperglycemic rats. In all measures the litter was the experimental unit. Parametric data were analyzed using one-way or, where appropriate, two-way ANOVA and significant effects were investigated using Tukey’s post hoc test. Fisher’s exact test was employed when data did not satisfy the assumption of normality e.g. presence of urine and fecal boli on the open field between groups. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 for all data.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud As expected neonatal STZ treatment caused hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in adulthood. STZ-treated pups also showed a temporary reduction in growth rate that probably reflected the early loss of circulating insulin. Hyperglycemic rats also exhibited a reduction in locomotor and exploratory behavior in the open field. Mild hyperglycemia did not impair gonadotropin levels or estrous cylicity but ovarian steroid concentrations were altered.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud In female Wistar rats, neonatal STZ treatment impairs growth in infancy and results in mild hyperglycemia/hypoinsulinemia in adulthood that is associated with changes in the response to a novel environment and altered ovarian steroid hormone levels.The authors are thankful to Ruither Carolino for hormonal determinations, to Felipe Hiroshi Saito and Silvia Sakamoto for technical assistance, to Fernanda Pereira Lima for her help with animal care, and to CAPES for financial support

Hiperglicemia materna: efeitos no cuidado materno e no desenvolvimento e comportamento dos descendentes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of maternal mild hyperglycemia on maternal behavior, as well as on offspring development, behavior, reproductive function, and development of glucose intolerance in adulthood. At birth, litters were assigned either to Control (subcutaneous(sc)- citrate buffer) or STZ group (streptozotocin(STZ)-100mg/kg-sc.). On PND 90 rats were mated. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed during pregnancy. Pregnancy duration, litter size and sex ratio were assessed. Newborns were classified according to birth weight as small (SPA), adequate (APA), or large for pregnancy age (LPA). Maternal behavior was analyzed on PND 5 and 10. Offspring physical and sexual development was evaluated. Offspring body weight, length, and anogenital distance was measured and general activity was assessed on open field. Sexual behavior studies were conducted on both male and female offspring. Levels of reproductive hormones and estrous cycle duration were evaluated in female offspring. Female offspring were mated and GTT and ITT performed during pregnancy. STZ neonatal administration caused mild hyperglcyemia during pregnancy and changed some aspects of maternal care. The hyperglycemic intrauterine millieu impaired physical development and increased imobility on the open field in the offspring although the latter effect appeared at different ages for males (adulthood) and females (infancy). However, offspring sexual behavior was not impaired and, during pregnancy, STZ female offspring did not become glucose intolerant. Therefore, it can be concluded that mild hyperglycemia during pregnancy caused changes in maternal behavior, as well as offspring development and general activity, but failed to induce glucose... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Semana de conscientização sobre o cérebro em Botucatu: Interação entre a Universidade e o ensino fundamental

A população carece de boas fontes de informações sobre temas relacionados às neurociências. Eventos de extensão podem contribuir para divulgar e estimular o gosto pelo campo de estudo desde o ensino fundamental. Neste artigo relatamos nossas experiências durante três anos consecutivos de eventos nas semanas de conscientização sobre o cérebro em Botucatu. As principais ações foram realizadas em um educandário e em um projeto ligado à ação da cidadania do município. As ações incluíram: (i) atividades lúdicas seguidas de gincana de perguntas e respostas para fixação do conteúdo trabalhado; (ii) distribuição de palavras cruzadas, caças palavras, labirintos e folhas para colorir sobre os temas abordados para as crianças e para usuários de um restaurante popular localizado ao lado do hospital das clínicas do campus; (iii) palestra noturna sobre o tema da semana para pais e amigos das crianças do educandário. As ações tiveram grande aceitação por parte das crianças, alunos (7-14 anos), professores e adultos. Estimamos que houve, nos três anos, envolvimento de cerca de 590 crianças e 600 adultos, atingindo o objetivo de promover a popularização da neurociência em âmbito escolar e público, aproximando comunidade e universidade. Palavras-chave: Popularização da Ciência; Cérebro; Lúdico; Neurociências Botucatu Brain Awareness Week: University and elementary school interaction Abstract: The population lacks good sources of information on neuroscience topics. Outreach events can contribute to this dissemination and stimulate a taste for neurosciences since elementary school. In this article, we report our experiences over three consecutive years of events in Brain Awareness Week in Botucatu. The main actions of the events were carried out in an school and a municipality project related to citizenship. The actions included: (i) play activities followed by a question and answer session to fix the content worked; (ii) distribution of crosswords, word hunts, labyrinths and coloring sheets on topics addressed to children and users of a popular restaurant, located next to the clinic hospital of the campus, (iii) evening talk for parents and friends (200 adults) of the children studying in the school, about the topic of the week. The actions were widely accepted by the children, students (7-14 years old), teachers, and adults participating. We estimate in the three years about 590 children and 600 adults, achieving the goal of promoting the popularization of neuroscience in school and public, approaching the university community. Keywords: Popularization of Science; Brain; Playful; Neuroscienc

Effects of maternal exposure to the galactagogue Sulpiride on reproductive parameters in female rats

The antipsychotic Sulpiride has been documented as an effective galactagogue that acts blocking dopamine receptors, increasing prolactin concentrations. However, this drug passes through the milk exposing neonates during postnatal development, which may result in functional and morphological alterations in adult life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal exposure to Sulpiride during lactation could impair reproductive development of female offspring. The dams were treated daily by gavage with Sulpiride doses of 2.5 mg/Kg (SUL 2.5 mg group) and 25 mg/Kg (SUL 25 mg group), or distilled water (Control group) throughout the lactation period. During early life, body weight, anogenital distance, and vaginal opening were analyzed on the female offspring. In adulthood, estrous cycle, sexual behavior, estrogen levels as well as the weight of the reproductive organs were evaluated. There were no differences regarding body weight, anogenital distance, puberty onset, frequency and duration of the estrous cycle and estradiol levels on female offspring. Nonetheless, there were changes in sexual behavior. There was an increase in the number of observations in reflex magnitude 0 (absence of lordosis) and reflex magnitude 2 as well as a reduction of reflex magnitude 3 in the rats of SUL 25 mg group in relation to the Control group, suggesting a decrease in sexual receptivity of these animals. These results demonstrate that maternal exposure to Sulpiride can alter reproductive function in female offspring rats. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Neonatally-induced diabetes: lipid profile outcomes and oxidative stress status in adult rats Diabete induzido no período neonatal: repercussões no perfil lipídico e avaliação dos marcadores de estresse oxidativo na vida adulta de ratas

BACKGROUND: Experimental models are developed for the purpose of enhancing the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in diabetes. Experimental findings lead to the development of treatment strategies to maintain metabolic conditions as close to normal as possible. There are several reports about streptozotocin induced mild diabetes to reproduce type 2 diabetes. However, studies about the interaction among glucose levels, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in these animals remain insufficient. Therefore, this study evaluated these parameters in blood samples from adult Wistar rats treated neonatally with streptozotocin. METHODS: Female newborn Wistar rats received streptozotocin (70 mg/kg, i.p.) on the 5th day of life (n5-STZ). Glycemia was measured in the 3rd and 4th month of life. At the end of the 4th month, blood samples were collected and processed for lipid profile and oxidative stress measurements. RESULTS: Glycemia of n5-STZ rats were significantly higher compared to those of control rats (p<0.05). There was no alteration in levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation (TBARS), SOD activity and GSH-t determination (p>0.05) in the n5-STZ animals when compared to control group. However n5-STZ animals showed a significant decreased HDL-cholesterol rate (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This streptozotocin-induced diabetes model in rats caused hyperglycemia (120-360mg/dL), characterizing mild diabetes. This glycemic level led to HDL-lipoprotein alteration, which was not sufficient to impair antioxidant enzyme activities or determination of lipid peroxidation in adult life of rats. Further this experimental investigation contributed to the understanding of different results found in other models for mild/moderate diabetes induction in laboratory animals as well as to a better comprehension of the pathophysiological mechanisms of mild diabetes or hyperglycemia in humans.<br>INTRODUÇÃO: Modelos experimentais são desenvolvidos com propósito de ampliar o entendimento dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos no diabete. Os achados experimentais levam ao desenvolvimento de tratamentos alternativos para a manutenção das condições metabólicas normais. Existem vários estudos sobre o diabete induzido por streptozotocin mimetizando o quadro clínico do DM2. No entanto, a interação entre os níveis de glicose, perfil lipídico e estresse oxidativo nestes animais são escassos. Portanto, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar estes parâmetros em ratas Wistar adultas com diabete induzido com streptozotocin no período neonatal. MÉTODOS: Fêmeas recém-nascidas receberam streptozotocin (70mg/Kg, ip) no 5º dia de vida (n5-STZ). A glicemia foi medida no terceiro e quarto meses de vida dos animais. No final do quarto mês de vida, amostras de sangue foram coletadas e processadas para a dosagem de lipídios e marcadores de estresse oxidativo. RESULTADOS: A glicemia das ratas do grupo n5-STZ foi significativamente maior comparada às ratas do grupo controle (p<0,05). Não houve alteração nos níveis de colesterol total e triglicérides, peroxidação lipídica (TBARS), atividade da SOD e determinação da GSH-t (p>0,05) nas ratas n5-STZ em relação às ratas do grupo controle. No entanto, houve diminuição significativa no HDL-colesterol (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Este modelo de indução de diabete em ratas causou hiperglicemia (120-360mg/dL), caracterizando o diabete moderado. Essa glicemia levou a alterações no HDL-colesterol, a qual não foi suficiente para prejudicar a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes ou marcadores da peroxidação lipídica na vida adulta. Além disso, esta investigação experimental contribuiu para entender os diferentes resultados encontrados em outros modelos deindução do diabete moderado em animais de laboratório, como também para a melhor compreensão dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos do diabete moderado ou da hiperglicemia em humanos

Maternal treatment with fluoxetine promotes testicular alteration in male rat pups

Fluoxetine (FLX) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant commonly prescribed during pregnancy and lactation. Pre- and post-partum depression, as well as SSRI treatment during these periods, may change maternal care, interfering with offspring development. Moreover, it is known that SSRIs may alter testes structure and function in offspring. The present study investigated the effects of maternal FLX exposure on maternal behaviour and testes function in offspring. Female Wistar rats were treated with 7.5 mg kg 1 FLX or tap water (control group) by gavage from the Day 1 of pregnancy until 21 days after birth (postnatal Day (PND) 21). Maternal behaviour was evaluated and morphofunctional analyses of offspring testes were conducted on PND 21 and 50. There were no significant differences between the FLX-treated and control groups regarding maternal behaviour. Nor did maternal treatment with FLX have any effect on bodyweight gain, anogenital distance, day of preputial separation, testis weight and the gonadosomatic index in male offspring. However, there was a decreased number of Sertoli cells at both PND 21 and 50 in FLX-exposed male offspring. The findings of the present study demonstrate that maternal exposure to FLX can impair testicular function in weanling and pubertal animals

POMC and NPY mRNA expression during development is increased in rat offspring brain from mothers fed with a high fat diet

Developmental programing is influenced by perinatal nutrition and it has long-lasting impacts on adult metabolism in the offspring. In particular, maternal high fat diet has been associated with increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders during adulthood in the descendants. These effects may be due to the effects of the high fat diet on the development of the systems that regulate food intake and energy balance in the offspring hypothalamus. The arcuate nucleus (ARC) may be a particularly sensitive region to it as this nucleus contains the POMC and AgRP/NPY neurons that integrate the melanocortin system. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal high fat diet during pregnancy on the transcription factors that regulate hypothalamic development in the offspring as a potential mechanism that may result in altered neuronal expression of POMC, NPY and/or AgRP. To this end, pregnant females exposed to high fat diet (60% fat diet since day 0 of pregnancy) or standard rat chow were sacrificed on days 12, 14, 16 and 18 of gestation to obtain brains from their developing fetuses and examine the mRNA expression of transcription factors associated with the development of cells in the ARC. Results show that, while no changes in transcription factor expression between groups were observed, POMC and NPY mRNA expression were higher on embryonic day 18 in the high fat group. These results suggest that POMC and NPY expression are altered by in utero exposure to a high fat diet, but these changes in gene expres

The exposure to Trichilia catigua (catuaba) crude extract impairs fertility of adult female rats but does not cause reproductive damage to male offspring

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Trichilia catigua is broadly used in folk medicine due to its mental and physical tonic activities and stimulant effects. In animal models, its antidepressant-like effects have been associated with the dopaminergic (DA) system modulation, which has an important role on maternal behavior and male offspring reproductive development.Aim of the study: Since little is known about the adverse effects of the exposure to T. catigua crude extract (CAT) in rats, specially regarding maternal homeostasis and offspring development, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether CAT exposure may influence maternal toxicity parameters and behavior or disrupt male offspring physical and reproductive development.Material and methods: Dams were treated daily (by gavage) with 400 mg/kg of CAT or vehicle (control=CTR) throughout pregnancy and lactation. Fertility and maternal behavior tests were conducted in dams. Male offspring reproductive and behavioral parameters were analyzed.Results: Dams exposed to CAT showed increased pre- and post-implantation losses rates when compared to CTR group. No significant changes regarding maternal behavior or male offspring parameters were observed.Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal exposure to CAT interfered with implantation during the initial phases of pregnancy but did not induce changes on maternal behavior or male offspring reproductive and behavioral parameters