Metabolic Activity of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) on Glycemia and Leptinemia in Experimental Animals Fed a Cafeteria Diet

Objectives: To elucidate the relationship of hCG administration to glycemia, Non Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA), leptin and adiponectin levels on experimental animals previously submitted to a cafeteria diet, and then to a Low Calorie Diet (LCD). Design: Forty-one rats were selected (21 females, 20 males) and divided into seven (0-6) groups. Animals from groups 1 to 6 were fed a "cafeteria diet" with a mean energy content of 10% protein, 30% carbohydrate and 60% fat. Animals from group 0 were fed the standard laboratory diet. After the fattening period, animals from groups 1 to 6 were submitted to a restricted diet consisting of one-third the average daily intake for rats. hCG was administered for five weeks according to a specific protocol. The effects of hCG treatment were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: These assessments were compared: (1) glycemia, adiponectins, leptins and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA); (2) weight; (3) formulation effect; and (4) dose effect. Differences in leptins were observed between the Control group and Injectable A (p=0.026), Intrarectal Suspension A (p=0.20), Intrarectal Suspension B (p<0.001), and Intrarectal Suspension C (p<0001) groups. In all cases, the average values were higher for the control group. Significant differences were found in the groups treated with Injectable B, Intrarectal Suspension B (p=0.025) and Intrarectal Suspension C (p=0.037). Groups receiving Intrarectal Suspension B or C showed significantly lower mean leptin values. Differences in glycemia were detected between the Control group and Intrarectal Suspension A (p=0.021) and Intrarectal Suspension B (p=0.020) groups. Groups treated with Intrarectal Suspension A or B showed lower mean blood glucose values. Conclusions: Results show the activity of hCG (both urinary and recombinant) on glycemia and leptins levels in experimental animals in different formulations.hCG administration significantly decreased blood sugar and leptin levels, whereas adiponectins were only relatively sensitive to hCG

Expression of cellular components in granulomatous inflammatory response in piaractus mesopotamicus model

The present study aimed to describe and characterize the cellular components during the evolution of chronic granulomatous inflammation in the teleost fish pacus (P. mesopotamicus) induced by Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), using S-100, iNOS and cytokeratin antibodies. 50 fish (120 +/- 5.0 g) were anesthetized and 45 inoculated with 20 mu L (40 mg/mL) (2.0 x 10(6) CFU/mg) and five inoculated with saline (0,65%) into muscle tissue in the laterodorsal region. To evaluate the inflammatory process, nine fish inoculated with BCG and one control were sampled in five periods: 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 33rd days post-inoculation (DPI). Immunohistochemical examination showed that the marking with anti-S-100 protein and anti-iNOS antibodies was weak, with a diffuse pattern, between the third and seventh DPI. From the 14th to the 33rd day, the marking became stronger and marked the cytoplasm of the macrophages. Positivity for cytokeratin was initially observed in the 14th DPI, and the stronger immunostaining in the 33rd day, period in which the epithelioid cells were more evident and the granuloma was fully formed. Also after the 14th day, a certain degree of cellular organization was observed, due to the arrangement of the macrophages around the inoculated material, with little evidence of edema. The arrangement of the macrophages around the inoculum, the fibroblasts, the lymphocytes and, in most cases, the presence of melanomacrophages formed the granuloma and kept the inoculum isolated in the 33rd DPI. The present study suggested that the granulomatous experimental model using teleost fish P. mesopotamicus presented a similar response to those observed in mammals, confirming its importance for studies of chronic inflammatory reaction.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP