serum lipid profile modification related to polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in thoroughbred horses

ABSTRACTThe importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within the biological functions of animals has been widely recognized. In this study, exercise and PUFAs' supplementation effects on serum triglycerides (Try), total cholesterol (Chol), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) concentration were evaluated in athletic horses. Ten regularly trained thoroughbred horses were randomly divided in two groups, control group (CG; n = 5) and experimental group (EG; n = 5). EG received a 4-week PUFA supplementation; CG received no dietary supplement. Blood samples were collected from the animals every 10 days before (PreD10, PreD20, PreD30) and after (PostD10, PostD20, PostD30) 1700 metres of race and were tested for selected parameters. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures showed lower Chol levels at PreD10, PreD20, and PreD30 in EG with respect to control CG (P < .05). EG showed lower NEFA levels than CG at PreD20 and PostD30 (P < .05). Increase of Try levels was found in EG at PreD20 and Pos..

Godišnje promjene nekih pokazatelja mijene tvari u mliječnih krava na području Sredozemlja.

The seasonal rhythms reflect the ability of the endogenous adaptive mechanism to react in advance to the regular environmental changes associated with the seasons. It seems that these biochemical parameters are often influenced by a change in physiological status. The aim of this study was to assess the trend of annual variations of some biochemical parameters in dairy cows. The experimental subjects were ten dairy cows and the start of the experimental period coincided with the last month of pregnancy. These animals were monitored for one year and blood samples were collected every month. From the obtained sera, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), tryglicerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, total proteins, calcium and phosphorus were assessed by means of an automated spectrophotometer. All the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data were normally distributed (P<0.05, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). One method of repeated measurement, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), was applied to determine the effect of time during the experimental period (12 months) and P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Using cosinor-rhythmometry, three rhythmic parameters were determined: mesor (mean level), amplitude (half the range of oscillation) and acrophase (Φ, time of peak). A significant effect of time (P<0.0001) was shown for all the parameters, except for NEFA. After application of cosinor rhythmometry, only total bilirubin, creatinine, triglycerides and β-hydroxybutyrate showed a seasonal rhythm. In conclusion we can affirm that our results supplement the current information available about the circannual changes in the metabolic activity of these animals and help us to evaluate the adaptation of these animals to environmental changes, together with the metabolic effect of calving and lactation.Ritam promjene godišnjih doba utječe na endogeni adaptacijski mehanizam kako bi on unaprijed reagirao na sezonske promjene u okolišu. Čini se da promjene u fiziološkom stanju često utječu na biokemijske pokazatelje vezane uz taj mehanizam. Svrha je ovog istraživanja procijeniti utjecaj godišnjih promjena na neke biokemijske pokazatelje u mliječnih krava. U pokus je bilo uzeto 10 mliječnih krava, a sam je pokus započeo kad su one bile u posljednjem mjesecu bređosti. Krave su bile promatrane tijekom jedne godine, a krv im je bila uzimana svaki mjesec. Uzeti uzorci seruma bili su automatskim spekrofotometrom pretraženi na ukupni bilirubin, dušik iz ureje u krvi (BUN), kreatinin, ukupni kolesterol, neesterificirane masne kiseline, trigliceride, β-hidroksibutirat, ukupne bjelančevine te kalcij i fosfor. Rezultati su bili izraženi kao srednja vrijednost ± standardna devijacija (SD). Podatci su bili normalno distribuirani (P<0,05, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). Za ponovljeno mjerenje bila je primijenjena analiza varijance (ANOVA) kako bi se odredio učinak vremena tijekom pokusnog razdoblja (12 mjeseci) te su P vrijednosti <0,05 smatrane statistički značajnima. Uporabom Cosinor ritmometrije određena su četiri ritmička pokazatelja: mesor (srednja vrijednost), amplituda (polovica područja oscilacije) i akrofaza (Φ, vršno vrijeme). Značajan učinak vremena (P<0,0001) dokazan je za sve pokazatelje, osim za neesterificirane masne kiseline. Nakon primjene cosinor ritmometrije samo su ukupni bilirubin, kreatinin, trigliceridi i β-hidroksibutirat pokazivali sezonski ritam. Zaključno se može potvrditi da rezulati predstavljaju doprinos aktualnim informacijama o godišnjim promjenama metaboličke aktivnosti u krava i pomažu vrednovanju njihove prilagodbe okolišnim promjenama kod teljenja i laktacije

Assessing the effects of neonicotinoid insecticide on the bivalve mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis

Abstract In the present work, the marine invertebrate Mytilus galloprovincialis was used as model organism to evaluate the toxic effects of the neonicotinoid Calypso 480 SC (CAL) following 20 days of exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of 7.77 mg L-1 (0.1 % 96h-LC50) and 77.70 mg L-1 (1 % 96h-LC50), and a recovery period of 10 days in uncontaminated seawater. Results revealed that exposure to both concentrations of CAL increased significantly mortality rate in the cells of haemolymph and digestive gland, while digestive gland cells were no longer able to regulate cell volume. Exposure significantly reduced haemolymph parameters (Cl-, Na+), affected the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase of digestive gland and catalase of gill, and caused also histopathological alterations in digestive gland and gills. Main histological damages detected in mussels were lipofuscin accumulation, focal points of necrosis, mucous overproduction and infiltrative inflammations. Interestingly, alterations persisted after the recovery period in CAL-free water, especially for haemocyte parameters (K+, Na+, Ca2+, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose). A slight recovery of histological conditions was detected. These findings suggested that sub-chronic exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide caused important alterations in both cell and tissue parameters of M. galloprovincialis. Considering the ecologically and commercially important role of mussels in coastal waters, a potential risk posed by neonicotinoids to this essential aquatic resource can be highlighted

Effects of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine on the liver of high fat diet fed rats

Experimental studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) to rats fed diets rich in lipids induces a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels and body weight (BW) without inducing liver steatosis. On the basis of these observations we carried out some experimental in vivo studies to assess the effects of multiple high doses of T2 on the pituitary thyroid axis of rats fed diet rich in lipids. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of five animals each. The first group (N group) received standard diet, the second group was fed with a high fat diet (HFD group), while the third group (HFDT2 group) was additionally given T2 intraperitoneally at a dose level of 70 µg/100 g of BW three times a week up to four weeks. At the end of the treatment, blood sample from each animal was collected, centrifuged and the serum was stored at -20°C. The serum concentrations of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine, thyroxine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase were then determined. In addition, liver of rats was examined by histology in order to assess the presence and degree of steatosis. The administration of T2 to rats fed with a high fat diet suppressed TSH secretion (P=0.013) while no steatosis was observed in the liver of these animals. Our data show that multiple administrations of high doses of T2 to rats fed diets rich in lipid inhibit TSH secretion and prevent the onset of liver steatosis in these animals

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P &lt; 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P &lt; 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P &lt; 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation

Effects of Social Hierarchy Establishment on Stress Response and Cell Phagocytosis in Gilt-Head Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

Social stress can affect the ability of fish to respond to various stressors, such as pathogens or environmental variations. In this paper, the effects of social stress on gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) were investigated. To study the effects of physiological stress, we evaluated biochemical and cellular parameters, such as cortisol, glucose, lactate, osmolarity, and phagocytosis, 24 h after the establishment of social hierarchy in a group of three fish. Social hierarchy was determined and characterized by behavioral observation (aggressive acts and feeding order) of the specimens (dominant: “α”; subordinate: “β” and “γ”). After the establishment of social hierarchy, we observed that, overall, levels of plasma cortisol and other biochemical plasmatic stress markers (glucose and lactate) were higher in subordinate individuals than in dominant individuals. In addition, the modulation of phagocytic activity of the peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) demonstrated that social stress appeared to affect immune response. Finally, principal component analysis clearly separated the subordinate fish groups from the dominant groups, based on stress markers and the phagocytic activity of peritoneal exudate cells. This study contributes to current knowledge on gilt-head sea bream, helping to understand the link between social stress, behavior, and physiology of this species, relevant in the aquaculture sector, where fish are subjected to several kinds of stress

Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (<i>Equus asinus</i>)

The values for basal serum cortisol concentrations of horses are available in many studies. However, there are limited data about serum cortisol in donkeys. The present study aimed to determine the baseline values for serum cortisol, to evaluate the influence of age and pregnancy on its levels, and to correlate its values with leucocyte profile, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. Serum samples were collected from 97 healthy donkeys. Cortisol was analyzed by chemo-luminescent assay. The median and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of serum cortisol measured and calculated in all donkeys were 5.64, 3.40, and 10.54 µg/dL, respectively. Females (n.91) were divided into three groups: Group A (young), Group B (adult), and Group C (pregnant at the 9th–11th months). The effect of age and physiological status was investigated by the Mann–Whitney test. Group C showed significantly higher levels than Group B (p p p p p p < 0.05). Higher cortisol values related to late pregnancy are also found in this species. These preliminary results provide evidence for a relationship between cortisol and the immune system as well as cortisol and lipid metabolism modulated by age and pregnancy when parameters are within normal values

Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus)

The values for basal serum cortisol concentrations of horses are available in many studies. However, there are limited data about serum cortisol in donkeys. The present study aimed to determine the baseline values for serum cortisol, to evaluate the influence of age and pregnancy on its levels, and to correlate its values with leucocyte profile, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. Serum samples were collected from 97 healthy donkeys. Cortisol was analyzed by chemo-luminescent assay. The median and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of serum cortisol measured and calculated in all donkeys were 5.64, 3.40, and 10.54 &micro;g/dL, respectively. Females (n.91) were divided into three groups: Group A (young), Group B (adult), and Group C (pregnant at the 9th&ndash;11th months). The effect of age and physiological status was investigated by the Mann&ndash;Whitney test. Group C showed significantly higher levels than Group B (p &lt; 0.05). Significant correlations were found in Group B with monocytes (r = 0.37, p &lt; 0.01) and triglycerides (r = 0.30, p &lt; 0.05), and in Group C with monocytes (r = 0.79, p &lt; 0.01), basophils (r = 0.6, p &lt; 0.05), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r = &minus;0.63, p &lt; 0.05). Higher cortisol values related to late pregnancy are also found in this species. These preliminary results provide evidence for a relationship between cortisol and the immune system as well as cortisol and lipid metabolism modulated by age and pregnancy when parameters are within normal values

Godišnje promjene nekih pokazatelja mijene tvari u mliječnih krava na području Sredozemlja.

The seasonal rhythms reflect the ability of the endogenous adaptive mechanism to react in advance to the regular environmental changes associated with the seasons. It seems that these biochemical parameters are often influenced by a change in physiological status. The aim of this study was to assess the trend of annual variations of some biochemical parameters in dairy cows. The experimental subjects were ten dairy cows and the start of the experimental period coincided with the last month of pregnancy. These animals were monitored for one year and blood samples were collected every month. From the obtained sera, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), tryglicerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, total proteins, calcium and phosphorus were assessed by means of an automated spectrophotometer. All the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data were normally distributed (P<0.05, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). One method of repeated measurement, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), was applied to determine the effect of time during the experimental period (12 months) and P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Using cosinor-rhythmometry, three rhythmic parameters were determined: mesor (mean level), amplitude (half the range of oscillation) and acrophase (Φ, time of peak). A significant effect of time (P<0.0001) was shown for all the parameters, except for NEFA. After application of cosinor rhythmometry, only total bilirubin, creatinine, triglycerides and β-hydroxybutyrate showed a seasonal rhythm. In conclusion we can affirm that our results supplement the current information available about the circannual changes in the metabolic activity of these animals and help us to evaluate the adaptation of these animals to environmental changes, together with the metabolic effect of calving and lactation.Ritam promjene godišnjih doba utječe na endogeni adaptacijski mehanizam kako bi on unaprijed reagirao na sezonske promjene u okolišu. Čini se da promjene u fiziološkom stanju često utječu na biokemijske pokazatelje vezane uz taj mehanizam. Svrha je ovog istraživanja procijeniti utjecaj godišnjih promjena na neke biokemijske pokazatelje u mliječnih krava. U pokus je bilo uzeto 10 mliječnih krava, a sam je pokus započeo kad su one bile u posljednjem mjesecu bređosti. Krave su bile promatrane tijekom jedne godine, a krv im je bila uzimana svaki mjesec. Uzeti uzorci seruma bili su automatskim spekrofotometrom pretraženi na ukupni bilirubin, dušik iz ureje u krvi (BUN), kreatinin, ukupni kolesterol, neesterificirane masne kiseline, trigliceride, β-hidroksibutirat, ukupne bjelančevine te kalcij i fosfor. Rezultati su bili izraženi kao srednja vrijednost ± standardna devijacija (SD). Podatci su bili normalno distribuirani (P<0,05, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). Za ponovljeno mjerenje bila je primijenjena analiza varijance (ANOVA) kako bi se odredio učinak vremena tijekom pokusnog razdoblja (12 mjeseci) te su P vrijednosti <0,05 smatrane statistički značajnima. Uporabom Cosinor ritmometrije određena su četiri ritmička pokazatelja: mesor (srednja vrijednost), amplituda (polovica područja oscilacije) i akrofaza (Φ, vršno vrijeme). Značajan učinak vremena (P<0,0001) dokazan je za sve pokazatelje, osim za neesterificirane masne kiseline. Nakon primjene cosinor ritmometrije samo su ukupni bilirubin, kreatinin, trigliceridi i β-hidroksibutirat pokazivali sezonski ritam. Zaključno se može potvrditi da rezulati predstavljaju doprinos aktualnim informacijama o godišnjim promjenama metaboličke aktivnosti u krava i pomažu vrednovanju njihove prilagodbe okolišnim promjenama kod teljenja i laktacije