Maternal effects on anogenital distance in a wild marmot population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Flavanols and Flavonols Content of Camellia sinensis with Different Maturity Stage Planted at Cameron Highland and Sabah Tea Plantation in Malaysia

This study was done to determine and compare the nutritional composition of ash, crude protein, crude fat and fiber, as well as the content of flavanols (EGCG, EGC, ECG and EC) and flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol) in tea planted in Cameron Highland (CH) and Sabah tea Plantation (ST) with different maturity stages (young, matured and old leaves). Young tea leaves in both CH and ST had the highest content of crude fat, protein and fiber and the values decreased as the leaves aged. Interestingly, crude protein content in all maturity stages of CH and ST were higher than in commercial tea (13.81%) with the range of 15.41 - 16.35% and 14.20 - 15.32% respectively. Meanwhile, ash content in ST (8.59 - 13.49%) was higher compared to CH (5.06 - 5.14%) and values decreased from young to old leaves. CH leaves had the highest moisture content (8.18 - 8.55%) followed by ST (5.23 - 9.20%), and commercial tea (5.7%). The order of flavanol in young leaves of CH and ST, and commercial tea leaves was ECG > EGCG > EGC > EC but for mature and old leaves the order was ECG > EGC > EGCG > EC with the only difference was in EGC and EGCG. The content of flavonol quercetin and kaempferol in CH were 3.51 mg/g and 4.05 mg/g respectively. Meanwhile, in ST leaves the values were 1.79 mg/g and 3.35 mg/g respectively, and both CH and ST showed that the highest content of flavonol was observed in young leaves and decreased as leaves aged

The effect of monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, alone or with azithromycin, on pcr-diagnosed malaria at delivery: A randomized controlled trial

10.1371/journal.pone.0041123PLoS ONE77

The celiac ganglion modulates LH-induced inhibition of androstenedione release in late pregnant rat ovaries

BACKGROUND: Although the control of ovarian production of steroid hormones is mainly of endocrine nature, there is increasing evidence that the nervous system also influences ovarian steroidogenic output. The purpose of this work was to study whether the celiac ganglion modulates, via the superior ovarian nerve, the anti-steroidogenic effect of LH in the rat ovary. Using mid- and late-pregnant rats, we set up to study: 1) the influence of the noradrenergic stimulation of the celiac ganglion on the ovarian production of the luteotropic hormone androstenedione; 2) the modulatory effect of noradrenaline at the celiac ganglion on the anti-steroidogenic effect of LH in the ovary; and 3) the involvement of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters released in the ovary upon the combination of noradrenergic stimulation of the celiac ganglion and LH treatment of the ovary. METHODS: The ex vivo celiac ganglion-superior ovarian nerve-ovary integrated system was used. This model allows studying in vitro how direct neural connections from the celiac ganglion regulate ovarian steroidogenic output. The system was incubated in buffer solution with the ganglion and the ovary located in different compartments and linked by the superior ovarian nerve. Three experiments were designed with the addition of: 1) noradrenaline in the ganglion compartment; 2) LH in the ovarian compartment; and 3) noradrenaline and LH in the ganglion and ovarian compartments, respectively. Rats of 15, 19, 20 and 21 days of pregnancy were used, and, as an end point, the concentration of the luteotropic hormone androstenedione was measured in the ovarian compartment by RIA at various times of incubation. For some of the experimental paradigms the concentration of various catecholamines (dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline) was also measured in the ovarian compartment by HPLC. RESULTS: The most relevant result concerning the action of noradrenaline in the celiac ganglion was found on day 21 of pregnancy resulting in the inhibition of androstenedione release from the ovarian compartment. In addition on day 15 of pregnancy, LH placed in the ovarian compartment led to an inhibition of the release of androstenedione, and this inhibitory effect was further reinforced by the joint action of noradrenaline in the celiac ganglion and LH in the ovary. The levels of catecholamines in the ovarian compartment showed differences among the experiments; of significance, the joint treatment of noradrenaline in the celiac ganglion and LH in the ovary resulted in a remarkable increase in the ovarian levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline when compared to the effect achieved by either one of the compounds added alone. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the noradrenergic stimulation of the celiac ganglion reinforces the LH-induced inhibition of androstenedione production by the ovary of late pregnant rats, and that this effect is associated with marked changes in the release of catecholamines in the ovary