Structural Features of Condensed Tannins Influence Their Antimethanogenic Potential in Forage Plants

Despite years of research on the antimethanogenic potential of condensed tannins (CT), their large-scale application is inhibited by a substantial variability in previous studies with regards to their impact on ruminant nutrition. This variability mainly results from the complexity of CT structures, and their impact on methane emissions is often unaccounted for. Hence, this study (a) evaluated the variability in antimethanogenic potential across six forage species, (b) linked methane emissions to tannin activity, and (c) determined the impact of CT structural features on methane abatement. Six forage species were grown in a greenhouse under controlled environmental conditions, namely, sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), plantain (Plantaga lanceolata), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). The plants were harvested at the flowering stage and leaf samples were analysed for chemical composition, condensed tannin concentration and structural features, before being incubated in rumen fluid for 24 hours. Lucerne was used as negative control (without tannins) and an additional polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment was included, to inactivate tannins and link any effect on fermentation characteristics to tannin activity only. A strong variability across the species (P\u3c 0.0001) was observed on methane emissions. Sulla had the highest antimethanogenic potential and decreased methane emissions by 47% compared to lucerne. All species rich in CTs decreased both methane and total gas production, yet the PEG treatment did not alter the methane proportion in the total gas produced. In addition to CT concentration (R= -0.78), methane emissions were found to be negatively correlated with the CT structural features, prodelphinidin percentage (R= -0.6) and mean degree of polymerisation (R= -0.57). This study demonstrated that antimethanogenic potential of forages depends on CT concentration as well as on structural features and incorporating them in the studies can efficiently assess their impact on ruminant nutrition

Assessing the Potential of Diverse Forage Mixtures to Reduce Enteric CH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e Emissions

Enteric methane (CH4) is a main source of agriculture-related greenhouse gasses. Conversely, pasture is increasingly demanded by customers due to both perceived and real benefits regarding animal welfare, environmental aspects and product quality. However, if implemented poorly, CH4 emissions can increase, thus contributing to climate change. One promising option to reduce enteric CH4 emissions are plant specialized metabolites (PSM), and particularly tannins. Consequently, we conducted two complementary experiments to determine to what extent enteric CH4 emissions can be reduced, and how this affects milk yields: a) an in vivo experiment with grazing Jersey cows, where CH4 emissions were quantified using the SF6 tracer technique, and b) an in vitro experiment using the Hohenheim gas test. In the in vivo experiment, a binary mixture consisting of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) was compared against a diverse mixture consisting of eight species, including birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor). In the in vitro experiment, the eight species from the in vivo experiment were combined in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass in increasing proportions, to determine the mitigation potential of each species. Results show an increase in milk yield for the diverse mixture, although this is also accompanied by higher CH4 emissions. Nevertheless, these emissions are lower across both mixtures, when compared with similar trials. This is probably due to a very high digestibility of the ingested forage. With the in vitro experiment, we were able to confirm a substantial potential for CH4 reduction when including species rich in PSM. However, those forbs with the higher anti-methanogenic potential were only present in minor proportions in the pasture. Hence, further research will be required on how to increase the share of the bioactive species with lower competitiveness and confirm their potential in vivo

Serotonin and corticosterone rhythms in mice exposed to cigarette smoke and in patients with COPD:implication for COPD-associated neuropathogenesis

The circadian timing system controls daily rhythms of physiology and behavior, and disruption of clock function can trigger stressful life events. Daily exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) can lead to alteration in diverse biological and physiological processes. Smoking is associated with mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have abnormal circadian rhythms, reflected by daily changes in respiratory symptoms and lung function. Corticosterone (CORT) is an adrenal steroid that plays a considerable role in stress and anti-inflammatory responses. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5HT) is a neurohormone, which plays a role in sleep/wake regulation and affective disorders. Secretion of stress hormones (CORT and 5HT) is under the control of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Since smoking is a contributing factor in the development of COPD, we hypothesize that CS can affect circadian rhythms of CORT and 5HT secretion leading to sleep and mood disorders in smokers and patients with COPD. We measured the daily rhythms of plasma CORT and 5HT in mice following acute (3 d), sub-chronic (10 d) or chronic (6 mo) CS exposure and in plasma from non-smokers, smokers and patients with COPD. Acute and chronic CS exposure affected both the timing (peak phase) and amplitude of the daily rhythm of plasma CORT and 5HT in mice. Acute CS appeared to have subtle time-dependent effects on CORT levels but more pronounced effects on 5HT. As compared with CORT, plasma 5HT was slightly elevated in smokers but was reduced in patients with COPD. Thus, the effects of CS on plasma 5HT were consistent between mice and patients with COPD. Together, these data reveal a significant impact of CS exposure on rhythms of stress hormone secretion and subsequent detrimental effects on cognitive function, depression-like behavior, mood/anxiety and sleep quality in smokers and patients with COPD

Rhythmicity in Mice Selected for Extremes in Stress Reactivity: Behavioural, Endocrine and Sleep Changes Resembling Endophenotypes of Major Depression

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including hyper- or hypo-activity of the stress hormone system, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders such as major depression (MD). Further biological hallmarks of MD are disturbances in circadian rhythms and sleep architecture. Applying a translational approach, an animal model has recently been developed, focusing on the deviation in sensitivity to stressful encounters. This so-called 'stress reactivity' (SR) mouse model consists of three separate breeding lines selected for either high (HR), intermediate (IR), or low (LR) corticosterone increase in response to stressors.In order to contribute to the validation of the SR mouse model, our study combined the analysis of behavioural and HPA axis rhythmicity with sleep-EEG recordings in the HR/IR/LR mouse lines. We found that hyper-responsiveness to stressors was associated with psychomotor alterations (increased locomotor activity and exploration towards the end of the resting period), resembling symptoms like restlessness, sleep continuity disturbances and early awakenings that are commonly observed in melancholic depression. Additionally, HR mice also showed neuroendocrine abnormalities similar to symptoms of MD patients such as reduced amplitude of the circadian glucocorticoid rhythm and elevated trough levels. The sleep-EEG analyses, furthermore, revealed changes in rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep as well as slow wave activity, indicative of reduced sleep efficacy and REM sleep disinhibition in HR mice.Thus, we could show that by selectively breeding mice for extremes in stress reactivity, clinically relevant endophenotypes of MD can be modelled. Given the importance of rhythmicity and sleep disturbances as biomarkers of MD, both animal and clinical studies on the interaction of behavioural, neuroendocrine and sleep parameters may reveal molecular pathways that ultimately lead to the discovery of new targets for antidepressant drugs tailored to match specific pathologies within MD

Anti-depressant and anxiolytic like behaviors in PKCI/HINT1 knockout mice associated with elevated plasma corticosterone level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Protein kinase C interacting protein (PKCI/HINT1) is a small protein belonging to the histidine triad (HIT) family proteins. Its brain immunoreactivity is located in neurons and neuronal processes. PKCI/HINT1 gene knockout (KO) mice display hyper-locomotion in response to D-amphetamine which is considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia in animal models. <it>Postmortem </it>studies identified PKCI/HINT1 as a candidate molecule for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We investigated the hypothesis that the PKCI/HINT1 gene may play an important role in regulating mood function in the CNS. We submitted PKCI/HINT1 KO mice and their wild type (WT) littermates to behavioral tests used to study anti-depressant, anxiety like behaviors, and goal-oriented behavior. Additionally, as many mood disorders coincide with modifications of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, we assessed the HPA activity through measurement of plasma corticosterone levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to the WT controls, KO mice exhibited less immobility in the forced swim (FST) and the tail suspension (TST) tests. Activity in the TST tended to be attenuated by acute treatment with valproate at 300 mg/kg in KO mice. The PKCI/HINT1 KO mice presented less thigmotaxis in the Morris water maze and spent progressively more time in the lit compartment in the light/dark test. In a place navigation task, KO mice exhibited enhanced acquisition and retention. Furthermore, the afternoon basal plasma corticosterone level in PKCI/HINT1 KO mice was significantly higher than in the WT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PKCI/HINT1 KO mice displayed a phenotype of behavioral and endocrine features which indicate changes of mood function, including anxiolytic-like and anti-depressant like behaviors, in conjunction with an elevated corticosterone level in plasma. These results suggest that the PKCI/HINT 1 gene could be important for the mood regulation function in the CNS.</p

Mechanical performance of asphalt mixes incorporating waste glass

This paper shows the results obtained in a research project that analyzes the mechanical performance of asphalt concrete containing waste glass as a substitute of part of the aggregate. The mechanical performance of an AC16S asphalt mix with different percentages of glass (0%, 8% and 15%) and different types of filler was assessed with the moisture sensitivity test, the stiffness modulus test, and the cyclic triaxial compression test in order to analyze their response to moisture action and plastic deformation as well as to calculate their stiffness modulus. Results show that the reuse of waste glass as a substitute for the sand fraction in low dosages (8%) produced asphalt mixes with mechanical properties that were suitable for road surfaces course, being the calcium carbonate the more appropriate filler