Reduced pancreatic β-cell mass is associated with decreased FoxO1 and Erk1/2 protein phosphorylation in low-protein malnourished rats

A low-protein diet leads to functional and structural pancreatic islet alterations, including islet hypotrophy. Insulin-signaling pathways are involved in several adaptive responses by pancreatic islets. We determined the levels of some insulin-signaling proteins related to pancreatic islet function and growth in malnourished rats. Adult male Wistar rats (N = 20 per group) were fed a 17% protein (normal-protein diet; NP) or 6% protein (low-protein diet; LP), for 8 weeks. At the end of this period, blood glucose and serum insulin and albumin levels were measured. The morphometric parameters of the endocrine pancreas and the content of some proteins in islet lysates were determined. The β-cell mass was significantly reduced (≅65%) in normoglycemic but hypoinsulinemic LP rats compared to NP rats. Associated with these alterations, a significant 30% reduction in insulin receptor substrate-1 and a 70% increase in insulin receptor substrate-2 protein content were observed in LP islets compared to NP islets. The phosphorylated serine-threonine protein kinase (pAkt)/Akt protein ratio was similar in LP and NP islets. The phosphorylated forkhead-O1 (pFoxO1)/FoxO1 protein ratio was decreased by 43% in LP islets compared to NP islets (P < 0.05). Finally, the ratio of phosphorylated-extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (pErk1/2) to total Erk1/2 protein levels was decreased by 71% in LP islets compared to NP islets (P < 0.05). Therefore, the reduced β-cell mass observed in LP rats is associated with the reduction of phosphorylation in mitogenic-related signals, FoxO1 and Erk proteins. The cause/effect basis of this association remains to be determined4210935941FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2/04310-4; 04/11684-9; 03/10829-

O contributo da articulação entre a família e o jardim de infância para o desenvolvimento da literacia emergente

O presente trabalho enquadra-se na realização do relatório final de Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar (EPE) e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (1.º CEB) e tem como tema “O contributo da articulação entre a família e o jardim de infância no desenvolvimento da literacia emergente”. Este relatório final é o reflexo do percurso efetuado em contexto do referido Mestrado. Este relatório encontra-se estruturado em duas partes, sendo que a primeira se inicia com uma reflexão sobre as práticas em contexto de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) relativas aos semestres da PES II e PES III. Na segunda parte, é apresentado o trabalho de investigação. Com o intuito de perceber o contributo da família e do jardim de infância no desenvolvimento da literacia emergente foi realizada uma investigação de caráter quantitativo, utilizando o questionário direcionado aos educadores e pais/encarregados de educação de um agrupamento de escolas da cidade de Viseu. A análise dos dados recolhidos revelou que as educadoras de infância e os pais/encarregados de educação dizem promover atividades literácitas conducentes à articulação entre ambos os contextos: família e o jardim de infância. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que existe articulação entre a família e as educadoras de infância de um agrupamento de escolas de Viseu, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento da literacia emergente. Assim, a família e o jardim de infância, contextos privilegiados e enriquecedores de literacia, podem contribuir de forma decisiva para o desenvolvimento da literacia emergente na criança.Abstract This work is part of the completion of the final report of Master in Pre-School Education (EPE) and education of the 1st cycle of basic education (1st CEB) and has as its theme "The contribution of the relationship between the family and kindergarten in the development of emergent literacy" This final report is a reflection of the journey effected in the said Master context. This report is structured in two parts, the first of which begins with a reflection on the practice Practice context Supervised Teaching (PES) for the six months of PES PES II and III. In the second part, the research work is presented. In order to realize the contribution of family and kindergarten in the development of emergent literacy one character quantitative research was carried out using a questionnaire directed to educators and parents / guardians of a group of Viseu of city schools. The analysis of the data collected revealed childhood educators and parents / guardians say promote activities leading to the linkage between the two contexts: family and kindergarten. The results showed that there is coordination between the family and the kindergarten teachers of a school group of Viseu, contributing to the development of emergent literacy. So the family and kindergarten, privileged and enriching contexts of literacy, can contribute decisively to the development of emergent literacy in children

Effect of nutritional recovery with soybean flour diet on body composition, energy balance and serum leptin concentration in adult rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malnutrition in early life is associated with obesity in adulthood and soybean products may have a beneficial effect on its prevention and treatment. This study evaluated body composition, serum leptin and energy balance in adult rats subjected to protein restriction during the intrauterine stage and lactation and recovering on a soybean flour diet.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five groups of the Wistar strain of albino rats were used: CC, offspring born to and suckled by mothers fed a control diet and fed the same diet after weaning; CS, offspring born to and suckled by mothers fed a control diet and fed a soybean diet with 17% protein after weaning; LL, offspring of mothers fed a low protein diet and fed the same diet after weaning; LC, offspring of mothers fed a low protein diet, but fed a control diet after weaning; LS, offspring of mothers fed a low protein diet, but fed a soybean diet with 17% protein after weaning. Food intake, body, perirenal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue were measured in grams. Leptin was quantified using the Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and insulin by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Carcass composition was determined by chemical methods and energy expenditure was calculated by the difference between energy intake and carcass energy gain. Data were tested by analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The LC and LS groups had higher energetic intake concerning body weight, lower energy expenditure, proportion of fat carcass and fat pads than CC and CS groups. The LS group showed reduced body weight gain and lower energy efficiency, which was reflected in less energy gain as protein and the proportion of carcass protein, and lower energy gain as lipid than in the LC groups, although both groups had eaten the same amount of diet and showed equal energy expenditure. Serum leptin did not differ among groups and was unrelated to food or energy intake and energy expenditure. Serum insulin was higher in the LS than in the LC group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Protein restriction during intrauterine life and lactation periods did not provoke obesity in adulthood. Nutritional recovery with soybean diet decreased the body weight at the expense of lower energy efficiency with repercussion on lean mass.</p

Interleukin-6 increases the expression and activity of insulin-degrading enzyme

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOImpairment of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we used 4-mo-old male C57BL/6 interleukin-6 (IL-6) knockout mice (KO) to investigate the role of this cytokine on IDE expression and activity. IL-6 KO mice displayed lower insulin clearance in the liver and skeletal muscle, compared with wild type (WT), due to reduced IDE expression and activity. We also observed that after 3-h incubation, IL-6, 50 and 100 ng ml(-1), increased the expression of IDE in HEPG2 and C2C12 cells, respectively. In addition, during acute exercise, the inhibition of IL-6 prevented an increase in insulin clearance and IDE expression and activity, mainly in the skeletal muscle. Finally, IL-6 and IDE concentrations were significantly increased in plasma from humans, after an acute exercise, compared to pre-exercise values. Although the increase in plasma IDE activity was only marginal, a positive correlation between IL-6 and IDE activity, and between IL-6 and IDE protein expression, was observed. Our outcomes indicate a novel function of IL-6 on the insulin metabolism expanding the possibilities for new potential therapeutic strategies, focused on insulin degradation, for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases related to hyperinsulinemia, such as obesity and T2DM.Impairment of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we used 4-mo-old male C57BL/6 interleukin-6 (IL-6) knockout mice (KO) to investigate the role of this cytokine on IDE expression and act7112FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2014/24719-7; 2015/12611-

Effects Of Triiodothyronine On Insulin Release From Cultured Neonatal And Adult Rat Islets.

Insulin secretion from neonatal and adult rat islets maintained in culture for 7-9 days in the absence or in the presence of 10 nM T3 was measured. In both neonatal and adult islets T3 treatment tends to inhibit insulin secretion only in the absence or in the presence of low glucose concentrations.221015-

Effects Of Glucose On 45ca2+ Outflow, Cytosolic Ca2+ Concentration And Insulin Release From Freshly Isolated And Cultured Adult Rat Islets.

The present study aimed at comparing the effects of glucose on ionic and secretory events in freshly isolated and 5-7 day cultured rat pancreatic islets. The capacity of glucose to provoke insulin release was severely reduced in islets maintained in culture. Whether in freshly isolated or cultured islets, glucose provoked a marked and sustained decrease in 45Ca2+ outflow from islets deprived of extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+ throughout, the magnitude of the glucose-induced secondary rise in 45Ca2+ outflow was reduced in cultured islets. Glucose provoked a weaker increase in [Ca2+]i in islet cells obtained from cultured islets than in islet cells dissociated from freshly isolated pancreatic islets. On the other hand, the stimulatory effect of carbamylcholine on 45Ca2+ outflow was unaffected by tissue culture. Lastly, in islet cells obtained from cultured islets, the increase in [Ca2+]i evoked by K+ depolarization averaged half of that observed in control experiments. These results indicate that the reduced secretory potential of glucose in cultured pancreatic islets can be ascribed to the inability of the nutrient secretagogue to provoke a suitable increase in Ca2+ influx.11603-