Effect of different olive oils on bile excretion in rats fed cholesterol-containing and cholesterol-free diets

The mechanism of the hypocholesterolemic effect of olive oils was investigated in 60 Wistar rats adapted to cholesterol-containing and cholesterol-free diets. The rats were divided in six diet groups of 10. The control group was fed only basal diet (BD), which contained wheat starch, casein, cellulose, and mineral and vitamin mixtures. For the five other groups, 10 g/100 g virgin (virgin group) or lampante (lampante group) olive oils, 1 g/100 g cholesterol (chol group), or both cholesterol and oil (chol/virgin and chol/lampante groups) were added to the BD. The experiment lasted 4 weeks. Before and after the experiment the bile was collected, and its flow and biliary bile acids and cholesterol concentrations were registered. Plasma lipids, liver cholesterol, plasma antioxidative potential (TRAP), fecal output, fecal bile acids, and fecal cholesterol excretion were measured. Groups did not differ before the experiment. After the experiment significant hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant effects were registered mainly in groups of rats fed cholesterol-containing diets supplemented with both olive oils (chol/virgin and chol/lampante). Significant increases in the bile flow and in the bile cholesterol and bile acids concentrations were observed (19.2% and 16.9%, 30.5% and 18.2%, and 79.6% and 45.6% for the chol/virgin and chol/lampante groups, respectively). Also, significant increases of the fecal output and fecal excretion of bile acids and cholesterol in rats of these groups were found. In conclusion, olive oils positively affect plasma lipid metabolism. The hypocholesterolemic effect of olive oils is genuine and is most likely mediated through increases in bile flow and biliary cholesterol and bile acids concentrations and subsequent increases in their fecal excretion.     

Effects of different crating periods on selected biochemical indices in broiler chickens

Effects of different crating periods on selected biochemical indices were monitored in a group of unsexed ROSS 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. 120 randomly selected chickens were weighted and placed in 15 heavy duty plastic crates with reduction in floor space approx. 160 cm2/kg of body weight of broilers (average body weight was 2.75 kg). Five crates were kept for 4 hours (Group 4h), another five crates for 8 hours (Group 8 h) and another five crates for 12 hours (Group 12h). After tested periods of crating the broilers were released and blood samples were withdrawn from Vena bosilico in 24 randomly selected birds from each group (Groups 4 h, 8 h, 12 h respectively) and also in other 24 randomly selected non-crated control birds. The results of our experiment proved that duration of crating significantly influenced the stress response in broiler chickens. The duration of crating period was positively correlated with the plasma corticosterone level and negatively correlated with the lactate dehydrogenase, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and lactate levels in the blood of broiler chickens.     

Electrochemical sensing of total antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content in wine samples using amperometry online-coupled with microdialysis

This work describes the method for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and/or total content of phenolics (TCP) analysis in wines using microdialysis online-coupled with amperometric detection using a carbon microfiber working electrode. The system was tested on 10 selected wine samples, and the results were compared with total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and chemiluminescent determination of total antioxidant capacity (CL-TAC) methods using Trolox and catechin as standards. Microdialysis online-coupled with amperometric detection gives similar results to the widely used cyclic voltammetry methodology and closely correlates with ORAC and TRAP. The problem of electrode fouling is overcome by the introduction of an electrochemical cleaning step (1-2 min at the potential of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl). Such a procedure is sufficient to fully regenerate the electrode response for both red and white wine samples as well as catechin/Trolox standards. The appropriate size of microdialysis probes enables easy automation of the electrochemical TAC/TCP measurement using 96-well microtitration plates.     

Geographic control of Titan's mid-latitude clouds

Observations of Titan's mid-latitude clouds from the W. M. Keck and Gemini Observatories show that they cluster near 350 degrees W longitude, 40 degrees S latitude. These clouds cannot be explained by a seasonal shift in global circulation and thus presumably reflect a mechanism on Titan such as geysering or cryovolcanism in this region. The rate of volatile release necessary to trigger cloud formation could easily supply enough methane to balance the loss to photolysis in the upper atmosphere.     

Olive oils improve lipid metabolism and increase antioxidant potential in rats fed diets containing cholesterol

The effect of olive oils on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity was investigated on 60 male Wistar rats adapted to cholesterol-free or 1% cholesterol diets. The rats were divided into six diet groups of 10. The control group (control) consumed the basal diet (BD) only, which contained wheat starch, casein, cellulose, and mineral and vitamin mixtures. To the BD were added 10 g/100 g virgin (virg group) or Lampante (Lamp group) oils, 1 g/100 g cholesterol (chol group), or both (chol/virg group) and (chol/Lamp group). The experiment lasted 4 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total phospholipids (TPH), HDL-phospholipids (HDL-PH), total radical-trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP), malondialdehyde lipid peroxidation (MDA), and liver TC were measured. Groups did not differ before the experiment. In the chol/virg and chol/Lamp vs chol group, the oil-supplemented diets significantly (P < 0.05) lessened the increase in plasma lipids due to dietary cholesterol as follows: TC (25.1 and 23.6%), LDL-C (39.3 and 34.7%), TG (19.3 and 17.0%), and TC in liver (36.0 and 35.1%) for the chol/virg and chol/Lamp group, respectively. The chol/virg and chol/Lamp diets significantly decreased the levels of TPH (24.7 and 21.2%; p < 0.05 in both cases) and HDL-PH (22.9 and 18.0%; p < 0.05 in both cases) for the chol/virg and chol/Lamp group, respectively. Virgin and Lampante oils in rats fed basal diet without cholesterol did not affect the lipid variables measured. Virgin, and to a lesser degree Lampante, oils have increased the plasma antioxidant activity in rats fed BD without cholesterol (an increase in TRAP, 20.6 and 18.5%; and a decrease in MDA, 23.2 and 11.3%, respectively). In the rats of chol/virg and chol/Lamp vs Chol diet groups the added oils significantly hindered the decrease in the plasma antioxidant activity (TRAP, 21.2 and 16.7%; and MDA, 27.0 and 22.3%, respectively). These results demonstrate that virgin, and to less degree Lampante, oils possess hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties. It is more evident when these oils are added to the diets of rats fed cholesterol. These positive properties are attributed mostly to the phenolic compounds of the studied oils.     

Der Einflusz von Waldfeldbau auf die physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften der Waldb?den

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Ochrana Lesu

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Postnatal functional maturation of blood phagocytes in pig

Developmental changes of functional ability of peripheral blood phagocytes from days 1 to 100 of life were investigated. Luminol enhanced chemiluminiscence was used to establish the ability of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Simple superoxide anion production was determined by spectrophotometrical measurement of cytochrome c. Activity of surface aminopeptidase N was assessed by spectrophotometrical measurement of l-alanine-p-nitroanilide. Flow cytometric measurements of CD18 and CD45 expression were performed. The ROS production per 0.5microl of blood did not show any trend; however, the values recalculated per 500 granulocytes had a decreasing course. The most noteworthy increase in production of superoxide anion occurred between days 17 and 26. Activity of aminopeptidase N decreased during the first 4 weeks. Expression of CD18 and CD45 intensively increased from days 1 to 14 with gradual decrease by day 100. Natural immunity develops during the early postnatal life and seems to be influenced by exposure of the organism to environmental antigens.