Potential role of the CD38/cADPR signaling pathway as an underlying mechanism of the effects of medetomidine on insulin and glucose homeostasis

ObjectiveTo investigate the CD38/cADPR signaling pathway as possible underlying mechanism of the effects of medetomidine on insulin and glucose homeostasis.AnimalsThirty–two C57BL/6 mice of both sexes.MethodsWild–type (WT) and CD38–knockout (CD38^?/?) mice received medetomidine (50 μg kg^?1) or a similar volume of 0.9% NaCl (control) by intraperitoneal (IP) injection (each group n = 8). The mice were euthanized 45 minutes later with sodium pentobarbital IP and blood was sampled via cardiac puncture. Insulin and glucose concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and by the oxygen rate method, respectively. Data were analyzed with anova and Bonferroni post hoc (5% significance) and are shown as mean ± SD.ResultsPlasma insulin and glucose concentrations were similar between WT and CD38^?/? mice under control conditions. As compared to controls, medetomidine administration produced a statistically significant decrease in plasma insulin concentrations in the WT mice whereas the decrease in the CD38^?/? mice was not statistically significant. Correspondingly, medetomidine caused a significantly greater increase in plasma glucose concentrations in the WT than in the CD38^?/? mice.ConclusionThe CD38/cADPR signaling pathway may be one underlying mechanism of the glucose and insulin effects of the alpha–2 adrenergic receptor agonist medetomidine and likely other drugs of its’ class.     

(+)-methyl jasmonate-induced bioformation of myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol in red raspberries

The effect of postharvest treatment with enantiomers of methyl jasmonate (MJ) in conjunction with ethanol on bioformation of myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol in red raspberry was studied. For comparison, postharvest treatment with the commercial stereoisomeric mixture of MJ in conjunction with ethanol was simultaneously accomplished. The levels obtained were contrasted with those determined in untreated (control) samples. Exogenous (+)-MJ induced an enhancement in the levels of myricetin, quercetin and, particularly, kaempferol whereas the exposition to (-)-MJ exhibited the opposite effect. Enzymatic assays were carried out in presence and absence of (-)-MJ and (+)-MJ to evaluate possible changes in the activity of the enzymes regulating the bioformation of flavonols in red raspberries as a consequence of the treatments. From the results of the assays both (-)-MJ and (+)-MJ inhibited the activity of flavanone 3β-hydroxylase (FHT) and flavonol synthase (FLS), which are directly involved in the formation of flavonols from (-/+)-naringenin. From these results, it is speculated that the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) regulating the formation of (-/+)-naringenin from l-phenylalanine by (+)-MJ in conjunction with ethanol is promoted. Postharvest treatment of red raspberry with (+)-MJ in ethanol is proposed as a mean to increase flavonol content in red raspberries.     

Bryophyllum pinnatum poisoning of cattle

SUMMARY Two adult cattle died within 48 h of being fed a large amount of Bryophyllum pinnatum plants collected from a house garden. Clinical signs became apparent the day after feeding and included hypersalivation, ataxia, severe cardiac arrhythmia and laboured respiration. The main necropsy findings were acute rumenitis, reduction of bronchiolar lumens and emphysema.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of gamma-lactones in edible oils by on-line coupled high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography

A new method is proposed for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of gamma-lactones in different vegetable edible oils (i. e., olive oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, peanut oil, and walnut oil), and its potential for authenticity control is underlined for a limited number of samples. The method is based on the direct injection (i.e., without requiring a sample pretreatment step) in on-line coupled reversed phase liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) using a chiral stationary phase in the GC-step. Different experimental values for both speed of sample introduction into GC and volume of the transferred fraction are considered to improve the recoveries obtained. Relative standard deviations lower than 10% and detection limits ranging from 0.06 to 0.22 mg/L were achieved for the investigated gamma-lactones.     

A neoproterozoic snowball earth

Negative carbon isotope anomalies in carbonate rocks bracketing Neoproterozoic glacial deposits in Namibia, combined with estimates of thermal subsidence history, suggest that biological productivity in the surface ocean collapsed for millions of years. This collapse can be explained by a global glaciation (that is, a snowball Earth), which ended abruptly when subaerial volcanic outgassing raised atmospheric carbon dioxide to about 350 times the modern level. The rapid termination would have resulted in a warming of the snowball Earth to extreme greenhouse conditions. The transfer of atmospheric carbon dioxide to the ocean would result in the rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate in warm surface waters, producing the cap carbonate rocks observed globally.     

黄色类胡萝卜素在蛋黄着色上的应用

蛋黄的颜色是由存在于蛋鸡饲料中、最终可转移到蛋黄中的着色类胡萝卜素决定的。家禽饲料中类胡萝卜素最主要的来源是玉米、玉米面筋、紫花苜蓿和草粉,这些原料中类胡萝卜素的含量及其利用率是家禽营养学家和饲料生产者关注的问题,特别是在完全依赖这些原料提供饲料中所需色素时。鉴于消费者对蛋黄颜色的偏好,在蛋鸡饲料中额外添加黄色和红色类胡萝卜素成为饲料工业中广泛采用的方法。而怎样配制最经济有效的配方是一项具有挑战性的任务。蛋黄色素沉积可分成2个明显的阶段。第一阶段是黄色浸润阶段,创造一个黄色基础。在这个阶段,蛋黄颜色达…     

Use of a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor as an adjunctive analgesic in a horse with laminitis

HistoryA 4‐year old, 500 kg Thoroughbred female horse diagnosed with bilateral forelimb laminitis and cellulitis on the left forelimb became severely painful and refractory to non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory therapy (flunixin meglumine on days 1, 2, 3 and 4; and phenylbutazone on days 5, 6 and 7) alone or in combination with gabapentin (days 6 and 7).Physical examinationPain scores assessed independently by three individuals with a visual analog scale (VAS; 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain) were 8.5 on day 6, and it increased to 9.5 on day 7. Non‐invasive blood pressure monitoring revealed severe hypertension.ManagementAs euthanasia was being considered for humane reasons, a decision was made to add an experimental new drug, trans‐4‐{4‐[3‐(4‐Trifluoromethoxy‐phenyl)‐ureido]‐cyclohexyloxy}‐benzoic acid (t‐TUCB), which is a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor, to the treatment protocol. Dose and frequency of administration were selected based on the drug potency against equine sEH to produce plasma concentrations within the range of 30 nmol L^?1 and 2.5 μmol L^?1. Pain scores decreased sharply and remarkably following t‐TUCB administration and blood pressure progressively decreased to physiologic normal values. Plasma concentrations of t‐TUCB, measured daily, were within the expected range, whereas phenylbutazone and gabapentin plasma levels were below the suggested efficacious concentrations.Follow upNo adverse effects were detected on clinical and laboratory examinations during and after t‐TUCB administration. No new episodes of laminitis have been noted up to the time of writing (120 days following treatment).ConclusionsInhibition of sEH with t‐TUCB was associated with a significant improvement in pain scores in one horse with laminitis whose pain was refractory to the standard of care therapy. No adverse effects were noticed. Future studies evaluating the analgesic and protective effects of these compounds in painful inflammatory diseases in animals are warranted.     

Application of multielement stable isotope ratio analysis to the characterization of French, italian, and spanish cheeses

The stable isotope ratios (delta13C, delta15N, and delta34S of casein and delta13C and delta18O of glycerol) measured by IRMS of French, Italian, and Spanish cheeses are presented and discussed. Variability factors such as animal-feeding regimen, geographical origin, and climatic and seasonal conditions were studied to check the possibilities of cheese characterization offered by each isotopic parameter. Delta13C values of both casein and glycerol appeared to be strongly correlated to the amount of maize in the animal diet. Delta15N and delta34S of casein proved to be mostly influenced by the geoclimatic conditions of the area (aridity, closeness to the sea, altitude). Delta18O of glycerol was more dependent on the geographical origin of the cheeses and on climatic/seasonal parameters. By applying a multivariate stepwise canonical discriminant analysis, good discrimination possibilities for the different European cheeses were obtained, confirmed by the classification analysis, when >90% of the samples were correctly reclassified.