Transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer and sensitivity to hydrolysis of two anxiolytic peptides from αs1-casein, α-casozepine, and αs1-casein-f91-97: effect of bile salts

α-Casozepine and f91-97, peptides from α(s1)-casein, display anxiolytic activity in rats and may have to cross the intestinal epithelium to exert this central effect. We evaluated their resistance to hydrolysis by the peptidases of Caco-2 cells and their ability to cross the cell monolayer. To mimic physiological conditions, two preparations of bile salts were used in noncytotoxic concentrations: porcine bile extract and an equimolar mixture of taurocholate, cholate, and deoxycholate. The presence and composition of bile salts appeared to modulate the peptidase activities of the Caco-2 cells involved (i) in the hydrolysis of α-casozepine, leading to much higher formation of fragments f91-99, f91-98, and f91-97, and (ii) in the hydrolysis of f91-97, leading to lower degradation of this peptide. Transport of α-casozepine across Caco-2 monolayer increased significantly, in the presence of bile extract, and of fragment f91-97, in the presence of bile salts.     

Soil Contamination in Dumps on the Karstic Areas from the Plateaus (Southeast of Madrid, Spain)

After over 10 years of accumulation of residues in the studied dumps near Madrid, it has been registered low or moderate heavy metals concentrations on the surrounding area. Only occasionally, some rubbish dumps contain significant quantities of Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. The concentration levels of Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu are safe when they are compared with the surrounding areas levels of heavy metals. The aim of this paper is the analysis of pollutants existing around in the dumps located at the sides of the plateaus of the central valley of the Tajo River (provinces of Madrid and Toledo, Spain). The high karstification rate of the upper layer of these tablelands and the existence of numerous dumps on them (even on their slopes) make these areas vulnerable to heavy metal pollution. However, after several years of use, the concentration of pollutants only reaches moderate values in the studied areas. Dumping materials were collected at four rubbish dumps. The mineralogical composition of the materials were analysed by XRD. Sequential extraction procedure was applied for speciation of the metal forms in the collected samples. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr and Cd in extracts were determined by AAS. The studied samples showed high carbonate concentration. Contamination processes are combined there with weathering processes. Heavy metals concentration in control samples (gypsum, limestones, red soils and colluviums) were compared with samples of the studied dump in order to evaluate the pollution level. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu were variable. The contamination was elevated for samples in depth in relation with weathering process of heavy metals.     

不同能量和蛋白质水平日粮对石岐杂鸡免疫器官发育及血液生化指标的影响

本研究旨在探讨不同能量和蛋白质水平日粮对石岐杂仔鸡器官指数和血液生化指标的影响。选用21日龄健康石岐杂鸡120只,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只,饲喂4种蛋白质(CP)和能量(DE)水平不同的玉米-豆饼型日粮,分别为:Ⅰ组(12.09 MJ/kg;18.07%)、Ⅱ组(13.09 MJ/kg;18.01%)、Ⅲ组(12.09 MJ/kg;20.08%)和Ⅳ组(13.09 MJ/kg;19.93%)。试验期为21 d。结果显示:(1)Ⅱ、Ⅳ组较Ⅰ组能显著提高胸腺、脾脏和法氏囊等免疫器官指数(P<0.05);Ⅲ组较Ⅰ组能显著提高胸腺和脾脏指数(P<0.05)。(2)Ⅱ组较Ⅰ、Ⅲ组能显著提高肝脏指数(P<0.05);(3)Ⅱ组能显著提高葡萄糖和总胆固醇的含量(P<0.05);Ⅲ组能显著提高血清总蛋白、甘油三酯和尿酸的含量(P<0.05);Ⅳ组能显著提高血清总蛋白和葡萄糖的含量(P<0.05),并提高总胆固醇、甘油三酯和尿酸含量(P>0.05)。对于22～42日龄的石岐杂鸡,以免疫器官指数作为衡量标准,能量13.09 MJ/kg、蛋白质19.93%较为适宜;以血液葡萄糖和尿酸(或其他指标)为衡量指标,能量...     

蒙药三子汤对热应激小鼠特异性免疫的作用

为了研究蒙药三子汤对热应激小鼠的CD3+T/CD19+B细胞的作用,160只小鼠随机分4组:灌水组、热应激组、低剂量热应激组和高剂量热应激组,热应激后眼前房采血,流式细胞仪检测CD3+T/CD19+B细胞变化。结果:热应激0h的4组小鼠CD3+T/CD19+B细胞差异不显著;热应激组CD3+细胞2h、7d均显著低于灌药、灌水组(p<0.05);灌药组1h、2h、7d小鼠CD19+细胞量显著高于热应激、灌水组。表明三子汤可以维持热应激小鼠CD3+T细胞量无显著变化,并可显著提高CD19+B细胞量。     

Should veterinarians consider acrylamide that potentially occurs in starch-rich foodstuffs as a neurotoxin in dogs?

Three clinically healthy Labrador puppies developed ataxia, hypermetria and convulsions shortly after eating the burnt crust of maize porridge. Two of the puppies died. Acrylamide toxicity was considered based on the history of all 3 puppies developing nervous signs after being exposed to a starch-based foodstuff that was subjected to high temperature during preparation. Acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity is thought to partially result from a distal axonopathy.     

Necrotic enteritis in collared (Pecari tajacu) and white-lipped (Tayassu pecari) peccaries

An outbreak of necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens type C was diagnosed in captive collared (Pecari tajacu) and white-lipped (Tayassu pecari) peccaries housed in the Laboratory of Applied Ethology of Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz located in Ilhéus, State of Bahia, Brazil. Four collared peccaries and three white-lipped peccaries, all juveniles (25-105 days old), were affected. For all affected animals, lethargy and inappetance were followed by sudden death within 24 hours. Histopathology of intestinal wall, culture of C. perfringens type C, and the identification of beta-toxin from intestinal content confirmed the diagnosis.     

Papular dermatitis induced in guinea pigs by the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Histological, ultrastructural, and virological examinations were performed on abdominal skin from guinea pigs after a blood meal by colony-bred biting midges, Culicoides sonorensis. Small, superficial, cutaneous, crateriform ulcers with necrosis of superficial dermis developed at feeding sites and healed within 24-48 hours. Animals developed nonpruritic erythematous papules 5 days after feeding that persisted until the study ended at 12 days after feeding. Papules corresponded histologically to foci of epidermal hyperplasia and superficial interstitial dermatitis with intraepidermal micropustules and scattered intraepidermal polykaryons. The principal ultrastructural changes were spongiosis in germinal epithelium and neutrophilic-histiocytic exocytosis. No viral agents or broken mouthparts were identified in lesions. The dermatitis may represent a host reaction to persisting insect salivary secretion and should be considered as an additional consequence of blood feeding in future studies involving biting midges.     

Sex Ratio and Potential Fecundity of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) Caught by Anglers on the Elorn River (Northern Brittany, France) during 1979 and 1980

Analysis of the sex ratio of angling Atlantic salmon catches from March to mid-June on the Elorn river in 1979 and 1980 showed a majority of females among the spring salmon population. Comparison between serodiagnostic technique and visual observations of gonads indicated that the former method provided a very low error margin for sex ratio determination on all females in the early stages of maturation and entering rivers. Study of sexual characteristics of spring salmon bearing copepod parasites or not indicated that fish entering freshwater would initiate a new stage of the ovogenesis process characterized by a failure of about 30% of the oocytes and a correlation between fecundity and size that did not exist at the time of the entry into freshwater.