PAPEL DO SISTEMA IMUNE E ATUAÇÃO DOS PROBIÓTICOS NA DOENÇA DE CROHN

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma reviso bibliogrfica sobre a participao do sistema imune na fisiopatologia da Doena de Crohn (DC), bem como o seu tratamento por meio da utilizao dos probiticos. A DC conhecida como uma Doena Inflamatria Intestinal (DII) de carter transmural, focal, granulomatosa, que atinge qualquer ponto do tubo digestivo. O nmero de pacientes com DC tem aumentado significativamente nos ltimos anos. Apesar dos vrios estudos clnicos e experimentais que buscam esclarecer os mecanismos patognicos da DC, sua etiologia ainda permanece desconhecida. Vrios estudos mostraram deteriorao da imunidade de mediao celular nos pacientes com DC. Nesse contexto, os probiticos possuem efeitos benficos nas inflamaes intestinais, como a inibio do crescimento de patgenos microbianos, crescente aumento das junes epiteliais e modificao da permeabilidade intestinal, modulao da resposta imune e das clulas imunes da mucosa intestinal, secreo de produtos antimicrobianos e decomposio de antgenos luminais patognicos. No obstante, ao comprovado efeito dos probiticos nas DII como a DC, existem diferentes bactrias probiticas que possuem distintos efeitos imunolgicos, portanto, mais pesquisas contendo estes microrganismos em modelos experimentais animais e humanos, para um melhor conhecimento de seus benefcios e uma padronizao de sua utilizao na teraputica

Performance and hepatic morphology of Nile tilapia juveniles fed methionine and choline supplemented diets

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da metionina e colina sobre o desempenho produtivo e a morfologia do fígado de tilápia-do-nilo. Durante 87 dias, 160 peixes da linhagem Supreme, com peso vivo médio inicial de 77±0,8 g, distribuídos igualmente em 16 tanques de 1.000 L cada, foram cultivados em sistema com recirculação de água. Os peixes foram alimentados com rações, peletizadas, três vezes ao dia, até saciedade aparente. Foram utilizadas quatro rações com 33% de proteína bruta e 3.000 kcal kg-1 de energia digestível: controle, sem suplementação; suplementação com 3.000 mg kg-1 de metionina; com 2.000 mg kg-1 de colina; com 3.000 mg kg-1 de metionina e 2.000 mg kg-1 de colina. Não foi observado efeito do fornecimento de metionina ou colina sobre o ganho de peso diário, conversão alimentar, rendimento de filé, índice hepatossomático e gordura visceral. Os peixes alimentados com dietas suplementadas com colina e metionina tiveram menor teor de gordura nos filés e redução de inclusões lipídicas no tecido hepático. A suplementação com colina e metionina não afeta o desempenho produtivo de juvenis de tilápia-do-Nilo, mas a colina tem ação na utilização do lipídio hepático, evidenciada pela redução de inclusões lipídicas.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of methionine and choline on the productive performance and on the liver morphology of Nile tilapias. During 87 days, 160 Supreme strain fish, with averageweight of 77±0.8 g, equally distributed in 16 tanks with 1,000 L each, were cultivated in a recirculating water system. The fish fed on pelleted diets three times a day until apparent satiation. Four diets with 33% crude protein and 3,000 kcal kg‑1 digestible energy were used: control, without supplementation; supplemented with 3,000 mg kg‑1 methionine; with 2,000 mg kg‑1 choline; with 3,000 mg kg‑1 methionine and 2,000 mg kg‑1 choline. No effects of methionine or choline supplements were observed on daily weight gain, feed conversion, fillet yield, hepatosomatic index and visceral fat. Fish fed on diets supplemented with choline and methionine had lower fat content in the fillets and reduction of lipidic inclusion in the hepatic tissue. Choline and methionine supplementation does not affect productive performance of Nile tilapia juvenile; however, choline has an important action for hepatic lipid utilization, as evidenced by the reduction of lipidic inclusions

Food restriction protects the myenteric nervous population of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus / A restrição alimentar protege a população nervosa mioentérica de ratos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Background: Type 2 diabetes affects the intestine. Food restriction (FR) promotes benefits, but the studies of its effects in rats are scarce. This study aims to analyze the influence of two type 2 diabetes models and FR over the intestine morphology. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats formed three groups (n=10/group) treated for two months: C (control); DE (diabetic with streptozotocin+cafeteria-style diet); and DN (diabetic with streptozotocin+nicotinamide). These groups were subdivided into six during two months: CC (control), CCR (control+food restriction), DEC (diabetic+standard diet), DER (diabetic+food restriction), DNC (diabetic+standard diet) and DNR (diabetic+food restriction). FR was 50% of the average daily dietary intake of group C. Jejunum and ileum samples were collected for evaluation of wall morphometry, goblet cell number, number and profile of myenteric neurons and glia. Results: The DE model promoted wall reduction in both segments, while DN jejunum was increased. Goblet cells were reduced in the jejunum for both diabetic models and FR. Both intestinal segments presented reduction of neuronal and glial myenteric populations in diabetes. Conclusions: FR promoted protection of myenteric neurons and glial cells against diabetic damage. The jejunum and ileum respond differently to diabetes and FR. FR has positive effects over the small intestine, mainly over the enteric nervous system

Use of Propolis Hydroalcoholic Extract to Treat Colitis Experimentally Induced in Rats by 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid

This study focused on the therapeutic effect of a propolis SLNC 106PI extract on experimental colitis. Wistar adult rats received 0.8 mL rectal dose of one of the following solutions: saline (group S), 20 mg TNBS in 50% ethanol (group TNBS), 20 mg TNBS in 50% ethanol and propolis extract in saline (group TNBS-P), propolis extract in saline (group SP), and 20 mg TNBS in 50% ethanol and 50 mg/kg mesalazine (group TNBS-M). The animals were euthanized 7 or 14 days after the colitis induction. Samples of the distal colon were harvested for the analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity and for morphometric analysis in paraffin-embedded histological sections with hematoxylin-eosin or histochemical staining. The animals treated with TNBS exhibited the typical clinical signs of colitis. Increased MPO activity confirmed the presence of inflammation. TNBS induced the development of megacolon, ulceration, transmural inflammatory infiltrate, and thickened bowel walls. Treatment with propolis moderately reduced the inflammatory response, decreased the number of cysts and abscesses, inhibited epithelial proliferation, and increased the number of goblet cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of the propolis SLNC 106 extract was confirmed by the reductions in both the inflammatory infiltrate and the number of cysts and abscesses in the colon mucosa

Particulate Matter Exposure During Perinatal Life Results in Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Adult Male Rat Offspring

Background/Aims: Particulate matter (PM) is an important risk factor for immunological system imbalance due to its small size, which can reach more distal regions of the respiratory tract, independently of its chemical composition. Some studies have suggested that PM exposure is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, especially in industrialized urban regions. However, studies regarding the effects of PM exposure during perinatal life on glucose metabolism are limited. We tested whether exposure to PM from an urban area with poor air quality during pregnancy and lactation could cause short- and long-term dysfunction in rat offspring. Methods: Samples of < 10 µm PM were collected in an urban area of Cotonou, Benin (West Africa), and reconstituted in corn oil. Pregnant Wistar rats received 50 µg PM/day by gavage until the end of lactation. After birth, we analyzed the dams’ biochemical parameters as well as those of their male offspring at 21 and 90 days of age. Results: The results showed that PM exposure did not lead to several consequences in dams; however, the male offspring of both ages presented an increase of approximately 15% in body weight. Although the blood glucose levels remained unchanged, the insulin levels were increased 2.5- and 2-fold in PM exposure groups of both ages, respectively. HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were also increased at both ages. We also demonstrated that the number, islet area and insulin immunodensity of pancreatic islets were significantly increased at both ages from PM exposure. Conclusion: Our data show that chronic PM exposure by the oral route during perinatal life in rats leads to glucose dyshomeostasis in male offspring both in early and later life. Thus, we suggest that an ambience with poor air quality, mainly where traffic is dense, can contribute to an increase in metabolic disease incidence

Aqueous Extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill Prevents Age-Related Changes in the Myenteric Plexus of the Jejunum in Rats

This study evaluated the effects of the supplementation with aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) on biometric and blood parameters and quantitative morphology of the myenteric plexus and jejunal wall in aging Wistar rats. The animals were euthanized at 7 (C7), 12 (C12 and CA12), and 23 months of age (C23 and CA23). The CA12 and CA23 groups received a daily dose of ABM extract (26 mg/animal) via gavage, beginning at 7 months of age. A reduction in food intake was observed with aging, with increases in the Lee index, retroperitoneal fat, intestinal length, and levels of total cholesterol and total proteins. Aging led to a reduction of the total wall thickness, mucosa tunic, villus height, crypt depth, and number of goblet cells. In the myenteric plexus, aging quantitatively decreased the population of HuC/D + neuronal and S100 + glial cells, with maintenance of the nNOS + nitrergic subpopulation and increase in the cell body area of these populations. Supplementation with the ABM extract preserved the myenteric plexus in old animals, in which no differences were detected in the density and cell body profile of neurons and glial cells in the CA12 and CA23 groups, compared with C7 group. The supplementation with the aqueous extract of ABM efficiently maintained myenteric plexus homeostasis, which positively influenced the physiology and prevented the death of the neurons and glial cells