Crop Physiology and Biochemistry Research Papers (original) (raw)

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- Physiology, RNA, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Gene expression
- by victor rodriguez
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- Physiology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Adipose tissue, Liver
- by Ichiro Ikuta
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- Physiology, Animal Studies, Clinical Trial, Calcium
- by luis ochoa
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- Crustacea, Localization, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Hemolymph

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is one of the horticultural crops commonly grown in Zimbabwe but the productivity of the crop is hampered by poor erratic seed germination due to dormancy. A study was carried out at Bindura University of Science Education to determine the best method and treatment
combination of breaking okra seed dormancy. Viability tests and germination tests were conducted first to ascertain that failure of germination was due to dormancy. The study consisted of 3 laboratory experiments arranged as factorial treatment structure laid in a completely randomised design with 3 replications. The 3 experiments consisted of 3 methods of breaking seed dormancy (water soaking, acid scarification and dry heating). Each of the different methods was employed at different exposure duration and at different temperature/concentration levels. Germination was measured for 14 days to determine the total final percentage seed germination. Acid scarified seeds for 3 min at 80% H2SO4
concentration level had the best germination percentage of 96.6% followed by dry heating for 5 minutes at 70°C and soaking for 12 h at 30°C which had 92.2 and 91.3% germination respectively. However, H2SO4 scarification for 5 min at 60% concentration gave the least germination of 44% followed by
soaking for 48 h at 30°C and dry heating for 5 min at 80°C which all resulted in 50% germination. Based on the research findings, 80% H2SO4 for 3 min can be used by okra farmers to break dormancy while dry heating for 5 min at 70°C and soaking for 12 h at 30°C are equally good alternatives.

- by James Chitamba and +1
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- Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Seed germination

Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni. is used as a remedy for coronary trouble, liver disorders, epilepsy, skin disease, and ulcer. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of polyphenolic-rich P. campechiana fruit extract against acetaminophenintoxicated rats. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of egg fruit were estimated followed by the determination of antioxidant activities. Treatment with P. campechiana fruit extract effectively scavenged the free radicals in a concentration-dependent manner within the range of the given concentrations in all antioxidant models. The presence of polyphenolic compounds were confirmed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC).

- by tajdar khan
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- Engineering, Oxidative Stress, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Polysaccharides

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to many diseases including metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 (PGC-1) is a superfamily of transcriptional co-activators which are important precursors to mitochondrial biosynthesis found in most cells including skeletal muscle. The PGC-1 superfamily consists of three variants all of which are directly involved in controlling metabolic gene expression including those regulating fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial proteins. In contrast to previous reviews on PGC-1, this mini-review summarizes the current knowledge of many known dietary stimulators of PGC-1 and the subsequent mitochondrial biosynthesis with associated metabolic benefit in skeletal muscle.

The objective of this work was to study the interactive effect of biochar and plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase and exopolysaccharide activity on mitigating salinity stress in maize (Zea mays L.). The plants were grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions, and were subjected to separate or combined treatments of biochar (0% and 5%, w/w) and two endophytic bacterial strains (Burkholderia phytofirmans (PsJN) and Enterobacter sp. (FD17)) and salinity stress. The results indicated that salinity significantly decreased the growth of maize, whereas both biochar and inoculation mitigated the negative effects of salinity on maize performance either by decreasing the xylem Na + concentration ([Na + ] xylem ) uptake or by maintaining nutrient balance within the plant, especially when the two treatments were applied in combination. Moreover, in biochar-amended saline soil, strain FD17 performed significantly better than did PsJN in reducing [Na + ] xylem . Our results suggested that inoculation of plants with endophytic baterial strains along with biochar amendment could be an effective approach for sustaining crop production in salt-affected soils.

- by Muhammad Naveed and +1
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- Soil Science, Agronomy, Organic agriculture, Plant Biology

It has been suggested that large foregut-fermenting marsupial herbivores, the kangaroos and their relatives, may be less constrained by food intake limitations as compared with ruminants, due mainly to differences in their digestive morphology and management of ingesta particles through the gut. In particular, as the quality of forage declines with increasing contents of plant fibre (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin; measured as neutral-detergent fibre, NDF), the tubiform foregut of kangaroos may allow these animals to maintain food intakes more so than ruminants like sheep, which appear to be limited by fibrous bulk filling the foregut and truncating further ingestion. Using available data on dry matter intake (DMI, g kg − 0.75 d − 1 ), ingesta mean retention time (MRT, h), and apparent digestibility, we modelled digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) and digestible energy intake (DEI) by ruminant sheep (Ovis aries) and by the largest marsupial herbivore, the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). Sheep achieved higher MRTs on similar DMIs, and hence sheep achieved higher DDMIs for any given level of DMI as compared with kangaroos. Interestingly, MRT declined in response to increasing DMI in a similar pattern for both species, and the association between DMI and plant NDF contents did not support the hypothesis that kangaroos are less affected by increasing fibre relative to sheep. However, when DEI was modelled according to DDMIs and dietary energy contents, we show that the kangaroos could meet their daily maintenance energy requirements (MER) at lower levels of DMI and on diets with higher fibre contents compared with sheep, due largely to the kangaroos' lower absolute maintenance and basal energy metabolisms compared with eutherians. These results suggest that differences in the metabolic set-point of different species can have profound effects on their nutritional niche, even when their digestive constraints are similar, as was the case for these ruminant and non-ruminant foregut fermenters.

- by Adam Munn
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- Physiology, Zoology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Ruminants

The weight loss observed in consumers of extracts of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) has been tentatively attributed to the lipolytic and thermogenic effects of the alkaloids abundant in the unripe fruit. Synephrine, octopamine, tyramine, and other alkaloids have been repeatedly identified and quantified in Citrus members of the Rutaceae family or in their extracts incorporated in dietary supplements for weight management. However, there are only scarce reports on their lipolytic action. This study aimed at comparing the acute lipolytic activity of synephrine, octopamine, tyramine, and N-methyltyramine in rat and human adipocytes. Maximal response to the prototypical βadrenergic agonist isoprenaline was taken as reference in both species. In rat, octopamine was slightly more active than synephrine while tyramine and N-methyl tyramine did not stimulate-and even inhibitedlipolysis. In human adipocytes, none of these amines stimulated lipolysis when tested up to 10 μg/ml. At higher doses (≥100 μg/ml), tyramine and N-methyl tyramine induced only 20% of the maximal lipolysis and exhibited antilipolytic properties. Synephrine and octopamine were partially stimulatory at high doses. Since synephrine is more abundant than octopamine in C. aurantium, it should be the main responsible for the putative lipolytic action of the extracts claimed to mitigate obesity. Noteworthy, their common isopropyl derivative, isopropylnorsynephrine (also named isopropyloctopamine or betaphrine), was clearly lipolytic: active at 1 μg/ml and reproducing more than 60% of isoprenaline maximal effect in human adipocytes. This compound, not detected in C. aurantium, and which has few reported adverse effects to date, might be useful for in vivo triglyceride breakdown.

- by Christian Carpéné
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Glucose, Epinephrine, Lipolysis

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is widely used as an antioxidant for the treatment of diabetes and its complications; however, the pro-oxidant potential of ALA has recently been reported. This study was designed to investigate whether ALA supplementation could have pro-oxidant effects on cardiac tissues in normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg (intraperitoneal). Diabetic and normal rats were treated with ALA (100 mg kg −1 day −1 ) for 45 days. ALA supplementation resulted in oxidative protein damage as evident by significant reduction in the cardiac levels of protein thiol in ALA-treated normal rats (P<0.01) together with a significant elevation (P<0.001) in the plasma levels of advanced oxidation protein products in ALA-treated normal rats and in ALA+STZ-diabetic rats compared with the normal control rats. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase has emerged as the major source of superoxide anion and enhanced oxidative damage in heart failure. ALA supplementation increased the myocardial immunoreactivity of p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase in both normal nondiabetic and diabetic rats reflecting its pro-oxidant effect. Data showed that ALA supplementation failed to prevent cardiac complications in diabetic rats and led to cardiac toxicity in normal rats as indicated by pathological changes (cellular infiltration, fibrosis, and degeneration) and by the elevation of serum cardiac biomarkers compared with normal controls. The pro-oxidant effects of ALA suggest that careful selection of appropriate doses of ALA in reactive oxygen species-related diseases are critical.

- by alfredo gonzalez
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- Physical Activity, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Cortisol, Testosterone

Vitamin C is a wide spectrum antioxidant essential for humans, which are unable to synthesize the vitamin and must obtain it from dietary sources. There are two biologically important forms of vitamin C, the reduced form, ascorbic acid, and the oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid. Vitamin C exerts most of its biological functions intracellularly and is acquired by cells with the participation of specific membrane transporters. This is a central issue because even in those species capable of synthesizing vitamin C, synthesis is restricted to the liver (and pancreas) from which is distributed to the organism. Most cells express two different transproter systems for vitamin C; a transporter system with absolute specificity for ascorbic acid and a second system that shows absolute specificity for dehydroascorbic acid. The dehydroascorbic acid transporters are members of the GLUT family of facilitative glucose transporters, of which at least three isoforms, GLUT1, GLUT3 and GLUT4, are dehydroascorbic acid transporters. Ascorbic acid is transported by the SVCT family of sodium-coupled transporters, with two isoforms molecularly cloned, the transporters SVCT1 y SVCT2, that show different functional properties and differential cell and tissue expression. In humans, the maintenance of a low daily requirement of vitamin C is attained through an efficient system for the recycling of the vitamin involving the two families of vitamin C transporters.

Background: The diagnostic criteria of the metabolic syndrome (MS) have been applied in studies of obese adults to estimate the metabolic risk-associated with obesity, even though no general consensus exists concerning its definition and clinical value. We reviewed the current literature on the MS, focusing on those studies that used the MS diagnostic criteria to analyze children, and we observed extreme heterogeneity for the sets of variables and cutoff values chosen. Objectives: To discuss concerns regarding the use of the existing definition of the MS (as defined in adults) in children and adolescents, analyzing the scientific evidence needed to detect a clustering of cardiovascular risk-factors. Finally, we propose a new methodological approach for estimating metabolic risk-factor clustering in children and adolescents. Results: Major concerns were the lack of information on the background derived from a child's family and personal history; the lack of consensus on insulin levels, lipid parameters, markers of inflammation or steato-hepatitis; the lack of an additive relevant effect of the MS definition to obesity per se. We propose the adoption of 10 evidence-based items from which to quantify metabolic risk-factor clustering, collected in a multilevel Metabolic Individual Risk-factor And CLustering Estimation (MIRACLE) approach, and thus avoiding the use of the current MS term in children. Conclusion: Pediatricians should consider a novel and specific approach to assessing children/adolescents and should not simply derive or adapt definitions from adults. Evaluation of insulin and lipid levels should be included only when specific references for the relation of age, gender, pubertal status and ethnic origin to health risk become available. This new approach could be useful for improving the overall quality of patient evaluation and for optimizing the use of the limited resources available facing to the obesity epidemic.

- by marcio bueno
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- Education, Evidence Based Medicine, Obesity, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry

Ethanolic extracts of Ananas comosus L. leaves (AC) enriched with phenols have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rats. Here, we investigated the effect of AC on insulin sensitivity in rats and HepG2. In high-fat diet-fed and low-dose streptozotozin-treated diabetic Wistar rats subjected to challenge with exogenous human insulin, AC treatment at an oral dose of 0.40 g/kg could significantly improve sensitivity to exogenous insulin. After a sub-acute treatment, AC also could inhibit the development of insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed and low-dose streptozotozin-treated diabetic rats following the test of loss of tolbutamide-induced blood glucose lowering action. For intravenous insulin/glucose infusion test, highfat diet-fed and low-dose alloxan-treated Wistar rats were associated with insulin resistance, which was improved after AC or fenofibrate treatment. AC application inhibited the development of insulin resistance in HepG2 cells. The above animal models were well developed to simulate type 2 diabetes. Taken together, our results suggest that AC may improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes and could be developed into a new potential natural product for handling of insulin resistance in diabetic patients.

- by Jasmer May Blando
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- Physiology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Hyperglycemia, Kidney

To obtain reliable relative qPCR data in developing fish larvae, stable reference genes have to be found. This study is focused on finding good candidates for normalization of qPCR data for ontogenetic studies of Atlantic cod. Ten commonly used reference genes; Acidic ribosomal protein, Actin-related protein 2, β-actin, Elongation factor 1 A, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Ribosomal protein 37, Ribosomal protein 4, Ribosomal protein S9, β 2-Tubulin and Ubiquitin were analyzed in developing larvae from 3 to 97 day post hatch (DPH). Two different tools were used to evaluate the stabilities of these genes; the geNorm software ranks the most stable genes based on a pair-wise analysis whereas NormFinder uses a model-based approach. The same genes were also analyzed in GI tract homogenates and compared to whole larvae homogenates. During Atlantic cod larval development there are several strong candidates with Ubiquitin as the most stable. The ribosomal proteins RPL4 and RPS9 are also strong candidates. RPL37 may be used but only when normalizing qRT-PCR results from one type of tissue. We also suggest the use of multiple genes for normalization of qRT-PCR. Our study suggests that whole-larvae samples can be used to study relative expression of genes that are expressed only in certain tissues.

- by Øystein Sæle
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- Physiology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Calibration, Atlantic cod

. Ž Blood samples were collected from 26 captive-reared alligators 25 females; one male and 12 seven females and five . males wild 'nuisance' alligators collected by wildlife personnel in south Louisiana in May 1995. The captive alligators, hatched from artificially incubated eggs in 1972᎐1973, had received vitamin E supplements during the 3 weeks before Ž . Ž . the blood sample was collected. Each sample was analyzed for vitamin E ␣-tocopherol , vitamin A retinol , total lipid, triacylglycerol, phospholipid, cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, free fatty acids, steroid hormones and a standard clinical blood panel. The fatty acid composition of the plasma lipid fraction was also analyzed. Results indicated that 18 of the captive females and three of the seven wild females were undergoing vitellogenesis, i.e. had elevated plasma estradiol Ž and elevated plasma calcium. Vitellogenic females had higher vitamin E than non-vitellogenic females 77.4 grml vs.

- by Valentine Lance
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- Physiology, Calcium, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Infertility

Hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress are known to accelerate coronary artery disease and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In the present study, an attempt was made to evaluate the putative antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidative effects of an ethanolic extract of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and chrysin, one of its major components, in hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of Triton WR-1339 (300 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.)), which resulted in persistently elevated blood/serum levels of glucose, lipid profile parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-, and very low-density lipoproteincholesterol), and of hepatic marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase). In addition, lowered mean activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) and lowered mean levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E) were observed. Oral administration of the mushroom extract (500 mg/kg b.wt.) and chrysin (200 mg/kg b.wt.) to hypercholesterolemic rats for 7 days resulted in a significant decrease in mean blood/serum levels of glucose, lipid profile parameters, and hepatic marker enzymes and a concomitant increase in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant parameters. The hypercholesterolemiaameliorating effect was more pronounced in chrysintreated rats than in extract-treated rats, being almost as effective as that of the standard lipid-lowering drug, lovastatin (10 mg/kg b.wt.). These results suggest that chrysin, a major component of the oyster mushroom extract, may protect against the hypercholesterolemia and elevated serum hepatic marker enzyme levels induced in rats injected with Triton WR-1339.

- by Vasanthi Nachiappan
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Flavonoids, Antioxidants, Cholesterol

Lichens are group of nonvascular plants. Lichen absorbs water and nutrient passively from their environment. Because of this lichens are particularly sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, water availability, and air pollutants and/or by substances accumulates in lichen from the environment through variety of mechanisms including particulate trapping, ion exchange, extracellular electrolyte adsorption, hydrolysis and intra cellular uptake. Air pollution control is more complex than most other environmental changes. A study has been done to evaluate the air pollution status by means of lichen through the biochemical variability of three macro environment (semiurban area Arambagh, urban area Burdwan and industrial area Durgapur). The study results revealed that there exist inverse relationship between pollutant load and pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoid content). Average concentration of chlorophyll 'a', 'b', and total chlorophyll was found in following order, Site-II>Site-III>Site-I. From the result of Chlorophyll Stability Index (CSI) it has been found that the chlorophyll degradation is highest in Site-II followed by Site-III and lowest in Site-I. There is a strong inverse relationship of chlorophyll content in lichen with SO2 and NOx but the level of SPM found highest in Site-I followed by Site-III and lowest in Site-II. Moreover, biochemical constituents (protein, sugar, phenol and proline) of all the representative samples were also vary from site to site. The study results reveal that the amount of soluble sugar was highest recorded at Site-III followed by Site-I and lowest in Site-II. Again correlation study indicates that there is positive relationship between soluble sugar and phenol content at 5% level of significance. Therefore, it also indicates that the lichen metabolite and other physiological action monitored by SO2, NOx and SPM level in the air. Studies showed that the semiurban area was under more vulnerable condition than industrial and urban area of Hooghly and Burdwan district. Moreover the micrograph study of representative lichen samples directly proved that lichen structure affected by air pollutants, but the extent of deformation exclusively depends on the level of pollutants present in the air. Results also suggest that different level of air pollutants (SO2, NOx and SPM) affect the biochemical parameters of lichen, but more extensive study is needed to confirm the relationship between air pollution status and lichen biochemistry.

- by Kousik Das
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry

Fructose is one of the most abundant monosaccharide in nature. It is also the sweetest naturally occurring carbohydrate. Since decades, fructose used for food preparations is not provided by fruit or vegetable but by a chemical process of starch or inulin conversion. We processed a new method of fructose extraction from apple and investigated the acute and long term effect of this carbohydrate on glucose metabolism in C57Bl6/j mice. By using the glycemic index (GI), we have shown that one of the sugars obtained from apple, FructiLight, has a very low impact on glycemic and insulin response during acute treatment compared to other sugars. This carbohydrate, essentially constituted by fructose, has also beneficial properties when administrated for long term treatment. Indeed, as two other sugars extracted from apple (FructiSweetApple and FructiSweet67), FructiLight exposure during 21 weeks in beverage has promoted an enhancement of glucose tolerance compared to glucose treatment without affecting food intake and weight. All these results indicate that apple-extracted sugars and more precisely fructose from these fruits could be a promising way to produce new food and sweet beverages.

- by OUARNE Françoise
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Blood Glucose, Insulin, Glucose Metabolism

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether blackcurrant leaf extract (BLE) modulates endothelium antithrombotic function, namely increases the expression/activity of ADPase (CD39) and augments the production of nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). It was found that BLE with proanthocyanidins (60 % of the total polyphenol content) increased the CD39-positive endothelial cell fraction (up to 10 % for 2.5 μg/ml, and up to 33 % for 15 μg/ml, p<0.05 or less) in a concentration-dependent manner, and enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation (T495 phosphorylation decreased by 31±6 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 48±6 % for 15 μg/ml; S1177 phosphorylation increased by 13±3 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 18±7 % for 15 μg/ml, compared to untreated cells, p<0.05 or less). Additionally, incubation for 24 or 48 h with BLE at a lower range of polyphenol concentrations, significantly increased cell viability with a maximal effect at 2.5 μg/ml (viability increased by 24.8±1.0 % for 24 h and by 32.5±2.7 % for 48-h time incubation, p<0.0001). The increased CD39 expression and the increased eNOS activation in HUVEC can be regarded as the beneficial markers of the improvement of antiplatelet action of endothelial cells. Unexpectedly, these assumptions were not confirmed in the experimental model of platelet-endothelial cell interactions. These observations lead to the conclusion that BLE may improve endothelial cell viability at low physiological concentrations without affecting the antiplatelet action of endothelium.

- by Joanna Rywaniak and +1
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Gene expression, Polyphenols, Phosphorylation

l. The activities of five enzymes have been studied quantitatively in denervated extensor digitorum longus, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of 24-month-old rats. The results have been compared with those obtained from normal muscles of a... more

- by Clermont Simard
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Phosphofructokinase, Muscles, Rats

Twenty-seven individual tree growth models are reviewed. The models take into account the same main physiological processes involved in carbon metabolism (photosynthate production, respiration, reserve dynamics, allocation of assimilates and growth) and share common rationales that are discussed. It is shown that the spatial resolution and representation of tree architecture used mainly depend on model objectives. Beyond common rationales, the models reviewed exhibit very different treatments of each process involved in carbon metabolism. The treatments of all these processes are presented and discussed in terms of formulation simplicity, ability to account for response to environment, and explanatory or predictive capacities. Representation of photosynthetic carbon gain ranges from merely empirical relationships that provide annual photosynthate production, to mechanistic models of instantaneous leaf photosynthesis that explicitly account for the effects of the major environmental variables. Respiration is often described empirically as the sum of two functional components (maintenance and growth). Maintenance demand is described by using temperature-dependent coefficients, while growth efficiency is described by using temperature-independent conversion coefficients. Carbohydrate reserve pools are generally represented as black boxes and their dynamics is rarely addressed. Storage and reserve mobilisation are often treated as passive phenomena, and reserve pools are assumed to behave like buffers that absorb the residual, excessive carbohydrate on a daily or seasonal basis. Various approaches to modelling carbon allocation have been applied, such as the use of empirical partitioning coefficients, balanced growth considerations and optimality principles, resistance mass-flow models, or the source-sink approach. The outputs of carbon-based models of individual tree growth are reviewed, and their implications for forestry and ecology are discussed. Three critical issues for these models to date are identified: (i) the representation of carbon allocation and of the effects of architecture on tree growth is Achilles’ heel of most of tree growth models; (ii) reserve dynamics is always poorly accounted for; (iii) the representation of below ground processes and tree nutrient economy is lacking in most of the models reviewed. Addressing these critical issues could greatly enhance the reliability and predictive capacity of individual tree growth models in the near future

Low resting metabolic rate (RMR) in subterranean rodents used to be considered as a physiological adaptation to cope with stresses of the belowground environment. In African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia), RMR was reported to be independent of body mass. This deviation from a general mammalian pattern was considered a precondition for evolution of eusociality, occurring in some bathyergids. We measured metabolic rate and thermoregulation in the silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus, the only bathyergid genus for which well-supported, comparable data were still missing. Low RMR (154.04 mL O 2 h − 1 , which is 82% of the value predicted for a rodent) corresponds to the value expected in a subterranean rodent. Broad range of the thermoneutral zone (25-33°C) and only slightly higher conductance (17.3 mL O 2 h − 1°C− 1 , i.e. 112.5% of that predicted for subterranean mammals) indicate that H. argenteocinereus is adapted to lower burrow temperatures rather than to high temperatures. Low RMR in this solitary species, as in other subterranean rodents in general, is probably associated particularly with high energetic cost of foraging. Our results combined with data on other mole-rats show clearly that RMR within the Bathyergidae is mass-dependent.

- by Radim Sumbera
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- Physiology, Zoology, Thermoregulation, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry

Plasma level of the protein VAP-1/SSAO (Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 / Semicarbazide-Sensitive Amine Oxidase) is increased in diabetes and/or obesity and may be related to vascular complications associated to these pathologies. The aim of this work was to complete a preceding study where we described the role played by some hormones or metabolites, implicated in diabetes and/or obesity, in the regulation of the release of VAP-1/SSAO by 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Here we focused on the previously observed effect produced by TNF~x in the release of VAP-1/SSAO and studied the effect of a beta-adrenergic compound, isoproterenol. Both compounds stimulated the release of VAP-1/SSAO to the culture medium but had a different effect on the VAP-1/SSAO membrane form. While TNF~x produced a decrease on VAP-1/SSAO membrane form content, isoproterenol did not modify it. We thus observed two different ways of regulation of the release of VAP-1/SSAO by 3T3-L1 adipocytes by metabolites implicated in diabetes and adipose tissue physiopathology. Our work permits a better understanding of this increased plasma VAP-1/SSAO levels observed in diabetes.

- by Xavier Testar
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Western blotting, Adipose tissue, Mice

When genetically incompatible colonies of the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri contact each other, a rejection reaction occurs, characterised by the appearance of cytotoxic foci along the touching borders. In the course of this reaction, morula cells, a common haemocyte-type in ascidians, release their vacuolar content, mainly phenoloxidase and its polyphenol substrata, upon the recognition of soluble factors diffusing from the alien colony through the partially fused tunic. In a previous paper, we demonstrated the relationship between phenoloxidase and cytotoxicity. Here, we investigated the effects of superoxide dismutase, catalase and sorbitol (scavengers of superoxide anions, peroxides and hydroxyl radicals, respectively) on the cytotoxicity observed in haemocyte cultures incubated with heterologous blood plasma. Although the above compounds have no effects on morula cell degranulation and phenoloxidase activity, they suppress cell death, suggesting that oxidative stress plays a key role in in vitro cytotoxicity. In addition, sorbitol reduces the extent of the cytotoxicity occurring in the rejection reaction between incompatible colonies, which stresses the important role of hydroxyl radicals in this process. The observation of a decrease in total and non-protein thiols in haemocytes previously incubated with heterologous blood plasma fits the hypothesis of oxidative stress as the main cause of phenoloxidase-related cytotoxicity. ᮊ

1. Synthetic amyloid β-peptide was toxic to NB41A3 neuroblastoma cells in serum-free culture as judged by decreasing cell numbers and release of the cytosolic enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase.2. Without amyloid β-peptide, bovine serum albumin increased the number of cells surviving in culture.3. In the presence of amyloid β-peptide, BSA appeared to potentiate the amyloid β-peptide toxicity.4. The toxic dose response for amyloid β-peptide varied between different cell lines (NB41A3, NB2a and IMR32), in a range of 100–1000 nM amyloid β-peptide.5. Amyloid β-peptide toxicity was inhibited by the concurrent treatment of the cells with the tachykinin physalaemin with an ed50 of 10−6M.

- by Sb Vyas
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Cell line, Mice, Bovine Serum Albumin

- by Manuel Carrillo
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- Physiology, RNA, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Gene expression

Resveratrol (RSV) is known to have an antiobesogenic effect because it mimics energy restriction. However, hardly any evidence exists concerning the combined effects of RSV and energy restriction on body fat reduction. So, the aim of the present study was to determine whether RSV increases body fat reduction induced by energy restriction. Male Wistar rats were fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for 6 weeks to obtain a dietinduced obesity model. Then they were submitted to a mild energy restriction (25 %) without or with RSV supplementation (30 mg/kg body weight/day) for 2 weeks. Final body weight, subcutaneous and intraabdominal white adipose tissues weights, Adipose Index, and serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol, glucose, and insulin were assessed. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) activities, as well as their genetic expressions, were measured in white adipose tissue. Final body weight, white adipose tissue weights, Adipose Index, and serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and insulin were reduced in both groups, but no differences were found among them. FAS, ACC, and LPL activities and expressions were also similar in both groups. These results suggest a lack of any adjuvant effect of RSV on energy restriction for obesity treatment purposes.

- by Maria Portillo
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Adipose tissue, Medical Physiology, Rats

Previous studies with different results have suggested that total and bioavailable testosterone levels are modified by physical exercise. Such changes may be related to modifications in cortisol levels and could be reflected in some urine androgens. To determine how weight lifting training may affect serum and urinary androgens, we measured total serum testosterone (T), cortisol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and urinary testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, and etiocholanolone, in a group of 19 elite weight lifters after 20 weeks of training. SHBG increased (from 27.5±9.5 to 34.7±8.1 nM, p< 0.05) whereas T/SHBG decreased significantly (from 1.10±0.4 to 0.85±0.3, p<0.05). Serum total testosterone and cortisol did not change significantly. In urine, androsterone and etiocholanolone decreased significantly, whereas testosterone and epitestosterone remained unchanged. Changes in T/SHBG were related positively with changes in urinary androgens (r=0.680, p<0.01), and changes in SHBG were negatively related with changes in urinary androgens (r = −0.578, p < 0.01). These results suggest that intense physical activity may have an influence on the elimination of androgenic hormones due mainly to changes in their transporting protein SHBG.

- by Rafael Timon
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- Physical Activity, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Cortisol, Testosterone

- by Ashok Pandey
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- Engineering, Oxidative Stress, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Polysaccharides

Aims: To determine the time interval between fruit formation and lignification (hardening of fruits) and phonological traits in three short, early maturing and three tall, late maturing genotypes of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L Moench) grown in southern Nigeria. Study Design: Two separate experiments for the dwarf early maturing and tall late maturing genotypes were laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Original Research Article Ubi et al.; IJPSS, 10(2): xxx-xxx, 2016; Article no.IJPSS.23514 2 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Calabar rainforest agro-ecology in 2014 and 2015 vegetables growing seasons. Methodology: Fruit lignification time interval was determine using the direct time measurement using stop watch and observation of the time interval between fruit formation to time of hardening (Lignification). Data for phenological traits were generated from direct measurements using appropriate tools and observations of okra plants in the field. Results: Results showed that the tall, late maturing okra genotypes required longer time interval to become lignified compared to the dwarf, early maturing genotypes throughout the period of study. Results of time interval measurement showed that significant (p<0.05) differences were detected among genotypes. A time interval of 142±4.50 hours was required for fruit lignification in Perkins long pod, while 'Etighi idok' and 'Okpo-mbontam' genotypes required 124±3.40 and 96±5.15 hours respectively to become lignified. The dwarf, early maturing genotypes, NHAe-47-4 fruits become lignified after 124±3.45 hours, 'Asaka awum' fruits required 121±4.20 hours while Agwu early took 78±3.25 hours to become unusable in fresh conditions. Results of phenological traits of Okra genotypes also revealed that the tall, late maturing genotypes had more branches per plant, more fruits per plant, longer fruiting period and longer days to flower and fruiting initiation compared to the dwarf, early maturing genotypes. Conclusion: Knowledge of fruit lignification time interval in Okra will no doubt reduce the laborious task of daily handpicking of immature fruits, reduce the rate of spoilage of the vegetable, enable for the consumption of fresh rather than dried okra and for plan and controlled harvesting of fruits for the market, income and food security.

Three common Red Sea soft corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa), Nephthea sp, Dendronephthya sp and Heteroxenia fuscescens sting humans. Nematocyst venoms of each animal are lethal to mice and hemolytic to human erythrocytes. However, these hemolysins are partially inhibited by known anti-hemolytic agents. Venoms and their gel chromatography-separated fractions have different dermonecrosis and vasopermeability potency in mouse skin. The venom of Heteroxenia fuscescens (Hf) was more lethal (LD : 0.7 mgykg), with one prominent 97-kDa protein fraction (LD : 0.55 mgykg). Hf venom 50 50 was more hemolytic, more dermonecrotic, and had more vasopermeable factors than that of the two other species. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of soft coral whole venoms and fractions showed different protein molecular masses ranging from 200 to less than 6 kDa. High IgG titers were assayed from venom-sensitized mice blood sera. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) marked significant immunological cross-reaction between the studied soft coral venoms and their bioactive fractions. ᮊ

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase is a highly polymorphic enzyme encoded by a human X-linked gene (Xq2.8). This enzyme catalyses the first step of pentose phosphate pathway, that converts glucose 6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconate with production of NADPH2. G6PD deficiency is the most common human metabolic inborn error affecting more than 400 million people world wide. The main clinical manifestations are acute hemolytic anemia and jaundice, triggered by infection or ingestion of Fava beans or oxidative drugs. A predominant variant of G6PD named Mediterranean is often associated with favism. This has been evident in several countries including Northern coastal provinces of Iran. Other current variants are Chatham and Cosenza. Molecular identification of the most prevalent mutations in G6PD gene was carried out in 71 males and females with G6PD deficiency. They were from Iranian Northern province of Golestan. DNA was extracted from blood samples and analyzed for known G6PD mutation by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) technique. Adapting this method, revealed that Mediterranean mutation at nt 563 (C→T) is predominant in the area (69%) and 26.7% of patients have Chatham mutation at nt 1003 (G→A). Findings indicate a higher prevalence of these mutations, in Golestan compared to Mazandaran (66.2% Mediterranean and 19% Chatham mutation) and Gilan (86.4% Mediterranean and 9.71% Chatham mutations). Cosenza mutation at nt 1376 (G→C), by PCR-RFLP technique was not found among other 3 samples (4.3%). The similarity of these results with mutations in Italy indicates probable existence of a common ancestral origin in the observed populations. La glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa (G6PD) es una enzima muy polimórfica codificada en el humano por un gen ubicado en el cromosoma X (Xq2.8). La enzima cataliza el primer paso de la vía de la pentosa fosfato, que convierte la glucosa-6-fosfato en 6-fosfogluconato con producción de NADPH2. La deficiencia en G6PD es el error metabólico congénito mas frecuente en los humanos, afectando a mas de 400 millones de personas en el mundo. Las principales manifestaciones clínicas son anemia hemolítica aguda e ictericia, provocada por infección o ingestión de habas o de productos oxidativos. Una variante muy frecuente de G6PD Ilamada Mediterránea se asocia a menudo con favismo, como se ha encontrado en diversos paises y en las provincias costeras del norte de Irán. Otras variantes son Chatham y Cosenza. En este trabajo, se ha realizado la identificación molecular de las mutaciones mas prevalentes del gen de la G6PD en 71 varones y mujeres con deficiencia en la enzima procedentes de la provincia norteña iraní de Golestan. A partir de ADN extraído de muestras de sangre, se analizó para mutaciones conocidas del gen mediante las técnicas de PCR y RFLP (polimorfismo de restricción de longitud polimórfica). Los resultados mostraron que la mutación en el nucleótido 563 (C→T) es predominante en el área (69%) y que el 26,7% de los pacientes presentan la mutación Chatham en 1003 (G→A). Ello indica una mayor prevalencia de estas mutaciones en Golestan en comparación con Mazandaran (66,2% mutación Mediterránea y 19% Chathman). La mutación Cosenza en 1376 (G→C) es muy poco frecuente (4,3%). La similaridad de estos resultados con las proporciones de las mutaciones encontradas en Italia sugieren la probable existencia de un origen ancestral común.

- by Zahra Laili
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- Physiology, Polymorphism, Population Genetics, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry
- by Ruth Elsey
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Stocking Density

So far overlooked as a pigment involved in visual communication, the haemoglobin contained in the blood of all birds is responsible for the red flushing colours in bare skin areas of some species. Our aim has been twofold: (1) to study sub-epidermical adaptations for blood circulation in two flushing species: the crested caracara (Polyborus plancus) and the hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), and (2) to provide the first compilation of avian species with flushing skin. The bare facial skin of both the caracara and the hooded vulture contains a highly vascularised tissue under the epidermis that may be filled with blood and would thus produce red skin colours. In contrast, feathered areas of the head show very few vessels immersed in connective tissue and have no potential for colour changes. Species with flushing colours are few but phylogenetically diverse, as they belong to 12 different avian orders and at least 20 families. The majority are dark-coloured, large-sized species living in hot environments that may have originally evolved highly vascularised skin patches for thermoregulation. Bird behaviour as well as sex and age differences within species suggest that a signalling system for condition or status based on haemoglobin may have been super-imposed to the physiological process of heat dissipation.

- by José Hernán Sarasola
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- Physiology, Zoology, Sexual Selection, Visual Communication

A. KUCUK, S. KABADERE, M. TOSUN, T. KOKEN, M.K. KINACI, B. ISIKLI and N. ERKASAP. Protective effects of doxycycline in ischemia/reperfusion injury on kidney. J Physiol Biochem, 65 , 183-192, 2009. Renal ischemia and reperfusion injury is the major cause of acute renal failure and may also be involved in the development and progression of some forms of chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether doxycycline, a member of the tetracycline family of antibiotics, protects kidney tissue or not. 36 Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were used. The animals were divided into three groups: control, ischemia/reperfusion and ischemia/reperfusion+doxycycline group. Rats were subjected to renal ischemia by clamping the left pedicle for 1 h, and then reperfused for 1 h. The ischemia/reperfusion+doxycycline group were pretreated intraperitoneally with doxycycline suspension (10 mg/kg) 2 h before the induction of ischemia. Our results indicate that malondialdehyde, matrix-metalloproteinase-2, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin 1-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were significantly higher in the ischemia/reperfusion group than those in the control group. Doxycycline administration significantly decreased these parameters. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 levels also increased after ischemia/reperfusion and decreased with doxycycline pretreatment, but these changes were not significantly different. Glutathione levels significantly decreased after ischemia/reperfusion injury when compared with the control group and doxycycline pretreatment significantly increased glutathione levels when compared with the ischemia/reperfusion group. Apoptotic cells and p53 positive cells were significantly decreased in doxycycline treated group. These results suggest that doxycycline reduces renal oxidative injury and facilitates repair. Doxycycline may play a role in a renoprotective therapeutic regimen.

- by Ayşegül Küçük and +1
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- Kidney diseases, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Apoptosis, Kidney

The profound hypotension in septic shock patients is di cult to treat as it is accompanied by depressed constrictor responses to ! 1 -adrenoceptor agonists. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main trigger for most of the... more

- by Astrid Alewijnse
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Lipopolysaccharide, Serotonin, Septic Shock

The Mediterranean-type diet combines several foods and nutrients already individually proposed as potential protective factors against adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to describe the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and intake of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients. The study sample consisted of 1,595 individuals from Bordeaux, France, included in 2001-2002 in the Three-City Study. Adherence to a MeDi (scored as 0 to 9) was computed from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Total energy intake (EI) and nutrient intake were evaluated on a 24 h recall. Statistical analyses were stratified by gender. Both in men and women, greater MeDi adherence was associated with higher total vegetal protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), notably n−6 PUFA, and lower total saturated fat intakes, as expressed in percentage of EI. Higher total monounsaturated fat and oleic acid intakes (% EI) were observed with greater MeDi adherence in men. Women with the highest MeDi adherence exhibited a higher mean carbohydrate, polysaccharide, and total n−3 PUFA intakes (% EI). The consumption of fibers; vitamins B6, C, and E; folate; magnesium; potassium; and iron increased with greater MeDi adherence, both in men and women. However, consumption of calcium significantly decreased with greater MeDi adherence in women, while the ratio of n − 6/n − 3 PUFA precursors increased. This crosssectional study provides the nutrient-related basis of the Mediterranean-type diet of French elderly community dwellers, which might participate to its welldocumented beneficial effects on health.

- by Cécilia Samieri and +2
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- Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, France, Micronutrients, Medical Physiology

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is one of the horticultural crops commonly grown in Zimbabwe but the productivity of the crop is hampered by poor erratic seed germination due to dormancy. A study was carried out at Bindura University of Science Education to determine the best method and treatment combination of breaking okra seed dormancy. Viability tests and germination tests were conducted first to ascertain that failure of germination was due to dormancy. The study consisted of 3 laboratory experiments arranged as factorial treatment structure laid in a completely randomised design with 3 replications. The 3 experiments consisted of 3 methods of breaking seed dormancy (water soaking, acid scarification and dry heating). Each of the different methods was employed at different exposure duration and at different temperature/concentration levels. Germination was measured for 14 days to determine the total final percentage seed germination. Acid scarified seeds for 3 min at 80% H 2 SO 4 concentration level had the best germination percentage of 96.6% followed by dry heating for 5 minutes at 70°C and soaking for 12 h at 30°C which had 92.2 and 91.3% germination respectively. However, H 2 SO 4 scarification for 5 min at 60% concentration gave the least germination of 44% followed by soaking for 48 h at 30°C and dry heating for 5 min at 80°C which all resulted in 50% germination. Based on the research findings, 80% H 2 SO 4 for 3 min can be used by okra farmers to break dormancy while dry heating for 5 min at 70°C and soaking for 12 h at 30°C are equally good alternatives.

- by charles nhuvira
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- Agronomy, Horticulture, Biology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry

J Physiol Biochem, 65 (1), [87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98] 2009 T. SANCLEMENTE, I. MARQUES-LOPES, J. PUZO and A.L. GARCÍA-OTÍN. Role of naturally-occurring plant sterols on intestinal cholesterol absorption and plasmatic levels (minireview). J Physiol Biochem, 65 (1), [87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98] 2009. Cardiovascular disease is a major health problem in developed countries although its incidence is relatively lower in Mediterranean countries which is partly ascribed to dietary habits. Epidemiologic evidence shows that elevated serum cholesterol, specifically low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (c-LDL), increases cardiovascular disease. Phytosterols are bioactive compounds, found in all vegetable foods, which inhibit intestinal cholesterol absorption and, therefore, have a serum cholesterollowering effect. Intestinal cholesterol absorption is a multistep process where plant sterols and stanols may act: a) attenuating the NPC1L1 gene expression, which may result in a lower cholesterol uptake from the lumen; b) lowering the cholesterol esterification rate by the ACAT2 (acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase) and, consequently, the amount of cholesterol secreted via the chylomicrons and c) upregulating the expression of ABC-transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8 in intestinal cells, which may result in an increased excretion of cholesterol by the enterocyte back into the lumen. Many clinical trials proved that commercial products enriched with phytosterols reduce cholesterol levels. Likewise, recent studies show that phytosterols present in natural food matrices are also effective and could be an important component of cardioprotective dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet.

- by Manuel Carrillo
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- Physiology, RNA, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Gene expression

Excess fat accumulation renders the liver more vulnerable to ethanol, but it is still unclear how alcohol enhances lipid dysmetabolism and oxidative stress in a pre-existing steatosis condition. The effects produced by binge ethanol consumption in the liver of male Wistar rats fed a standard (Ctrl) or a high-fat diet HFD were compared. The liver status was checked through tissue histology and standard serum parameters. Alteration of hepatic lipid homeostasis and consequent oxidative unbalance were assessed by quantifying the mRNA expression of the lipid-regulated peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptors (PPARs), of the cytochromes CYP2E1 and CYP4A1, and of some antioxidant molecules such as the metallothionein isoforms MT1 and MT2 and the enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase. The number of adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP)-positive lipid droplets (LDs) was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. As a response to the double insult of diet and ethanol the rat liver showed: (1) a larger increase in fat accumulation within ADRPpositive LDs; (2) stimulation of lipid oxidation in the attempt to limit excess fat accumulation; (3) induction of antioxidant proteins (MT2, in particular) to protect the liver from the ethanol-induced overproduction of oxygen radicals. The data indicate an increased susceptibility of fatty liver to ethanol and suggest that the synergistic effect of diet and ethanol on lipid dysmetabolism might be mediated, at least in part, by PPARs and cytochromes CYP4A1 and CYP2E1.

A. RAHMAN, S. AYDIN, M. K. BAYAR and ˙I . SAHIN. Changes of ghrelin and brain natriuretic peptide levels in systemic vascular resistance after cardiopulmonary bypass. J Physiol Biochem, 64 (3),... more

- by A. Rahman
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- Physiology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Ghrelin, Blood sampling

Mitochondria have been shown to be impaired in insulin resistance-related diseases but have not been extensively studied during the first steps of adipose cell development. This study was designed to determine the sequence of changes of the mitochondrial network and function during the first days of adipogenesis. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated into adipocytes without using glitazone compounds. At days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12, mitochondrial network imaging, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, membrane potential, and oxidative phosphorylation efficiency were assessed in permeabilized cells. Gene and protein expressions related to fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial network were also determined. Compared to preadipocytes (day 0), new adipocytes (days 6 and 9) displayed profound changes of their mitochondrial network that underwent fragmentation and redistribution around lipid droplets. Drp1 and mitofusin 2 displayed a progressive increase in their gene expression and protein content during the first 9 days of differentiation. In parallel with the mitochondrial network redistribution, mitochondria switched to uncoupled respiration with a tendency towards decreased membrane potential, with no variation of mtTFA and NRF1 gene expression. The expression of PGC1α and NRF2 genes and genes involved in lipid oxidation (UCP2, CD36, and CPT1) was increased. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production displayed a nadir at day 6 with a concomitant increase in antioxidant enzyme gene expression. This 3T3-L1-based in vitro model of adipogenesis showed that mitochondria adapted to the increased number of lipid droplets by network redistribution and uncoupling respiration. The timing and regulation of lipid oxidation-associated ROS production appeared to play an important role in these changes.

- by Pierre-henri Ducluzeau and +1
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- Physiology, Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Mitochondria, Gene expression