Glucose homeostasis and the enteroinsular axis in the horse: A possible role in equine metabolic syndrome

One of the principal components of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is hyperinsulinaemia combined with insulin resistance. It has long been known that hyperinsulinaemia occurs after the development of insulin resistance. But it is also known that hyperinsulinaemia itself can induce insulin resistance and obesity and might play a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome. This review focuses on the physiology of glucose and insulin metabolism and the pathophysiological mechanisms in glucose homeostasis in the horse (compared with what is already known in humans) in order to gain insight into the pathophysiological principles underlying EMS. The review summarizes new insights on the oral uptake of glucose by the gut and the enteroinsular axis, the role of diet in incretin hormone and postprandial insulin responses, the handling of glucose by the liver, muscle and fat tissue, and the production and secretion of insulin by the pancreas under healthy and disrupted glucose homeostatic conditions in horses.     

Routine metabolism of larval green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris Ayres)

Routine metabolic rates of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) from hatching to 31 days post hatch (dph) were determined under normoxic conditions. During the endogenous feeding stage that comprised period from hatching to 15 dph, the oxygen consumption rate (MO₂, μg O₂ larva⁻¹ h⁻¹) increased 5-fold before yolk reserves became exhausted and MO₂ rates steady. The allometric relationships between MO₂ and body mass had mass exponents greater than 1.0 (b=1.64±0.21) and equal to 1.0 (b=1.04±0.07) during the endogenous and exogenous feeding phases, respectively. The magnitude and changes of MO₂ rates in green sturgeon larvae reflected their early ontogeny, especially during the endogenous feeding phase when the increase in metabolic rates was associated with organogenesis, acquisition of organ functions, and the conversion of yolk sac into new tissues. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of dietary thiamin on the physiological status of the grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus coioides</Emphasis>

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary thiamin on the physiological status of the juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Graded levels of thiamin (0.08, 0.50, 2.12, 3.15, 4.63, 12.37 mg thiamin kg⁻¹ diet) were fed to grouper juveniles (mean weight: 16.97 ± 0.14 g) for 10 weeks. Although fish fed the thiamin-deficient (TD) diet showed no obvious symptoms of thiamin deficiency or increased mortality, those fed the lowest doses of thiamin (0.08 and 0.50 mg thiamin kg⁻¹ diet) had significantly decreased transketolase activity in the liver. In addition, the level of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in fish fed the TD diet was 33–67% higher than that in fish with the thiamin-supplemented diet. There were no significant differences in superoxide dismutase activity between the different groups of fish.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate-to-lipid ratios on growth, lipid deposition and metabolic hepatic enzymes in juvenile Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup)

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of various dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios on growth performance, whole‐body composition and tissue lipid content in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles. Data on the dietary regulation of key hepatic enzymes of the lipogenic and glycolytic pathways (glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PD; malic enzyme, ME; fatty acid synthetase, FAS; pyruvate kinase, PK and glucokinase, GK) were also generated. Four isonitrogenous (crude protein: 52% dry matter (DM)) diets were formulated to contain one of two lipid levels (11% and 21% DM). Within each dietary lipid level, the nature of the carbohydrate fraction (raw or extruded peas) was varied. Triplicate groups of 54 sole (initial body weight: 23.6±1.2 g) were grown in recirculated seawater over 67 days. Fish were fed using automated feeders. At the end of the study, whole‐body, liver, viscera and muscle samples were withdrawn for analyses. During the experimental period, the mean fish weight about doubled in all treatments. No significant differences were found in growth performance (ranging from 1.1% to 1.4% body weight day^?1) among dietary treatments. High‐fat diets increased whole‐body fat content. Similarly, daily fat gain ranged from 0.54 to 0.78 g kg^?1 day^?1 and highest values were found in fish fed high‐lipid diets. Dietary treatments also affected tissue lipid content (liver, viscera and muscle), with highest values in fish fed high‐fat diets. The nature of dietary carbohydrates had little influence on performance criteria, but affected tissue lipid deposition. The activities of G6PD, ME and FAS were depressed by elevated levels of dietary lipid, confirming the inhibitory effect of dietary fats on lipid biosynthesis. At both dietary lipid levels, ME and FAS activities were little affected by dietary carbohydrate. Activities of PK and GK were not affected by the starch level of the diets. In Senegalese sole juveniles, the lipogenic pathway is more susceptible to modulation by dietary means (particularly through lipid intake) than the glycolytic pathway.     

Dietary Fucoxanthin Increases Metabolic Rate and Upregulated mRNA Expressions of the PGC-1alpha Network,Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Fusion Genes in White Adipose Tissues of Mice

The mechanism for how fucoxanthin (FX) suppressed adipose accumulation is unclear. We aim to investigate the effects of FX on metabolic rate and expressions of genes related to thermogenesis, mitochondria biogenesis and homeostasis. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, four groups of mice were respectively fed a high sucrose (50% sucrose) or a high-fat diet (23% butter + 7% soybean oil) supplemented with or without 0.2% FX. FX significantly increased oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production and reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) mass. The mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), cell death-inducing DFFA-like effecter a (CIDEA), PPARα, PPARγ, estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) and deiodinase 2 (Dio2) were significantly upregulated in inguinal WAT (iWAT) and epididymal WAT (eWAT) by FX. Mitochondrial biogenic genes, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and NRF2, were increased in eWAT by FX. Noticeably, FX upregulated genes of mitochondrial fusion, mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), Mfn2 and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), but not mitochondrial fission, Fission 1, in both iWAT and eWAT. In conclusion, dietary FX enhanced the metabolic rate and lowered adipose mass irrespective of the diet. These were associated with upregulated genes of the PGC-1α network and mitochondrial fusion in eWAT and iWAT.     

Metabolomic Tools for Secondary Metabolite Discovery from Marine Microbial Symbionts

Marine invertebrate-associated symbiotic bacteria produce a plethora of novel secondary metabolites which may be structurally unique with interesting pharmacological properties. Selection of strains usually relies on literature searching, genetic screening and bioactivity results, often without considering the chemical novelty and abundance of secondary metabolites being produced by the microorganism until the time-consuming bioassay-guided isolation stages. To fast track the selection process, metabolomic tools were used to aid strain selection by investigating differences in the chemical profiles of 77 bacterial extracts isolated from cold water marine invertebrates from Orkney, Scotland using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Following mass spectrometric analysis and dereplication using an Excel macro developed in-house, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to differentiate the bacterial strains based on their chemical profiles. NMR ¹H and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) were also employed to obtain a chemical fingerprint of each bacterial strain and to confirm the presence of functional groups and spin systems. These results were then combined with taxonomic identification and bioassay screening data to identify three bacterial strains, namely Bacillus sp. 4117, Rhodococcus sp. ZS402 and Vibrio splendidus strain LGP32, to prioritize for scale-up based on their chemically interesting secondary metabolomes, established through dereplication and interesting bioactivities, determined from bioassay screening.     

Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering for Marine Carotenoids: New Opportunities and Future Prospects

Carotenoids are a class of diverse pigments with important biological roles such as light capture and antioxidative activities. Many novel carotenoids have been isolated from marine organisms to date and have shown various utilizations as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. In this review, we summarize the pathways and enzymes of carotenoid synthesis and discuss various modifications of marine carotenoids. The advances in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for carotenoid production are also reviewed, in hopes that this review will promote the exploration of marine carotenoid for their utilizations.     

盐胁迫对樱桃番茄风味品质的影响

为探究盐分胁迫对樱桃番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. cerasiforme Alef)风味的影响,本研究以樱桃5号为试验材料,探究了不同含盐量[T1:0.05 g·kg^-1(CK)、T2:1.5 g·kg^-1、T3:3 g·kg^-1、T4:4.5 g·kg^-1、T5:6 g·kg^-1]土壤条件下果实糖、酸、氨基酸、芳香类物质含量的变化。结果表明,各处理果实中果糖和葡萄糖含量较高,占糖类物质总量的94.88%~95.97%;盐胁迫能促进果实中糖类物质的积累,其中果糖在T5含量最高,较对照增加了18.34%,葡萄糖在T3含量最高,较对照显著增加了29.06%。果实中有机酸以柠檬酸和苹果酸为主,占总量的88.30%~91.60%,随着盐分的增加有机酸含量呈先升高后降低的趋势,柠檬酸和苹果酸含量均在T3最高,分别较对照显著增加了61.40%和129.90%,且有机酸总含量是对照的1.71倍。盐胁迫对樱桃番茄的氨基酸含量也有一定影响,盐胁迫处理果实中谷氨酸和天冬氨酸含量较高;除蛋氨酸外,各氨基酸含量均以T3最高。各处理果实中共检出47种芳香物质,其中醛类12种、酮类5种、醇类14种、酯类3种;盐胁迫处理番茄果实中芳香物质的种类较多,且相对含量高,其中2-已烯醛、香叶基丙酮、2-异丁基噻唑含量与对照有明显差异,是盐胁迫下影响番茄风味的重要芳香物质。本研究结果为盐胁迫提升樱桃番茄风味品质提供了数据支撑。