Cellular injury and lipid peroxidation induced by hexavalent chromium in isolated rat hepatocytes

In order to elucidate the relationship between cellular injury and lipid peroxidation induced by hexavalent chromium (CrVI), isolated rat hepatocytes treated with any one of scavengers of active oxygen species, antioxidants or antichromium agent were incubated with K2Cr2O7 as CrVI (1 mM Cr). After the incubation, the development of lipid peroxidation was determined as thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reacting materials in total lipid extracts from the incubated hepatocytes. Cellular injury was observed as a leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from hepatocytes into incubation medium. The contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) in hepatocytes were also assessed. Results obtained were as follows: (1) CrVI facilitated lipid peroxidation in isolated hepatocytes after 20 min of incubation. On the other hand, the cellular injury induced by CrVI was barely observed even after 60 min of incubation. (2) The CrVI-induced lipid peroxidation was inhibited by catalase and mannitol as scavengers of active oxygen species, or N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine and alpha-tocopherol as antioxidants. However the cytotoxicity of CrVI could not be prevented by these chemicals. (3) CrVI depleted the contents of intracellular GSH and diminished the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) except glutathione peroxidase. (4) The scavengers of active oxygen species and the antioxidants could not prevent the depletion of intracellular GSH induced by CrVI. (6) Ascorbic acid, antichromium agent, prevented all of the lipid peroxidation, the cellular injury and intracellular GSH depletion induced by CrVI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Calcium carbonate accumulations in Technosols of Moscow city

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Complex phenomena of the precipitation and accumulation of calcium carbonate in urban soils and sediments have been studied. They are linked to the interactions...     

The importance of manual white blood cell differential counts and platelet estimates in elephant hematology: blood film review is essential

Unique features of elephant hematology are known challenges in analytical methodology like two types of monocytes typical for members of the Order Afrotheria and platelet counts of the comparatively small elephant platelet. To investigate WBC differential and platelet data generated by an impedance-based hematology analyzer without availability of validated species-specific software for recognition of elephant WBCs and platelets, compared to manual blood film review. Blood samples preserved in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) of 50 elephants (n = 35 Elephas maximus and n = 15 Loxodonta africana) were used. A Mann-Whitney test for independent samples was used to compare parameters between methods and agreement was tested using Bland-Altman bias plots. All hematological variables, including absolute numbers of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets, were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between both methods of analysis, and there was no agreement using Bland-Altman bias plots. Manual review consistently produced higher heterophil and monocyte counts as well as platelet estimates, while the automated analyzer produced higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts. The hematology analyzer did not properly differentiate elephant lymphocytes and monocytes, and did not accurately count elephant platelets. These findings emphasize the importance of manual blood film review as part of elephant complete blood counts in both clinical and research settings and as a basis for the development of hematological reference intervals.     

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG SpaC pilin subunit binds to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a well‐established probiotic strain. The beneficial properties of this strain are partially dependent on its prolonged residence in the gastrointestinal tract, and are likely influenced by its adhesion to the intestinal mucosa. The pilin SpaC subunit, located within the Spa pili structure, is the most well studied LGG adhesion factor. However, the binding epitopes of SpaC remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the binding properties of SpaC to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates using a recombinant SpaC protein. In a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, SpaC binding was markedly reduced by addition of purified mucin and the mucin oligosaccharide fraction. Histochemical staining revealed that the binding of SpaC was drastically reduced by periodic acid treatment. Moreover, in the surface plasmon resonance‐based Biacore assay, SpaC bound strongly to the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing terminus of glycolipids. We here provide the first demonstration that SpaC binds to the oligosaccharide chains of mucins, and that the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing termini of glycoconjugates play a crucial role in this binding. Our results demonstrate the importance of carbohydrates of SpaC for mucus interactions.     

Canine fetal echocardiography: correlations for the analysis of cardiac dimensions

The aim of this study was to develop regression models for correlation of canine fetal heart development with body size to characterize normal development or suggest cardiac anomalies. Twenty clinically healthy pregnant bitches, either brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic, were examined ultrasonographically. Transabdominal fetal echocardiography was conducted every 4 days from the beginning of cardiac chambers differentiation until parturition. Ten cardiac parameters were measured: length, width and diameter of the heart; heart area; left and right ventricular dimensions; left and right atrial dimensions; and aortic and pulmonary artery diameter. Femoral length, biparietal diameter and abdominal cross-sectional area were also recorded. Regression equations were developed for each parameter of fetal body size, and linear and logarithmic models were compared. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was chosen to produce equations to calculate relative dimensions based on the correlations. Only the left-ventricular chamber differed between the two racial groups. Biparietal diameter was the independent parameter that produced the highest correlation coefficient for the most fetal cardiac dimensions, although good correlations were also observed using femoral length and abdominal cross-sectional area. Heart width and heart diameter were used as surrogates of cardiac development, as these measurements showed the best statistical correlation. Quantitative evaluation of fetal cardiac structures can be used to monitor normal and abnormal cardiac development.     

Preventive effects of CIDR-based protocols on premature ovulation before timed-AI in Ovsynch in cycling beef cows

Ovsynch is a program developed to synchronize ovulation for timed breeding. In this paper, the authors investigate whether controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-based protocols prevent premature ovulation before timed-artificial insemination (AI) when Ovsynch is started a few days before luteolysis in cycling beef cows. Nine beef cows at 16 days after oestrus were treated with (1) Ovsynch, i.e. gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue on day 0, prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) analogue on day 7 and GnRH analogue on day 9 with timed-AI on day 10, (n=3); (2) Ovsynch+CIDR (Ovsynch protocol plus a CIDR for 7 days from day 0, n=3), or (3) oestradiol benzoate (OB)+CIDR+GnRH (OB on day 0 in lieu of the first GnRH treatment, followed by the Ovsynch+CIDR protocol, n=3). In the Ovsynch group (1) plasma progesterone concentrations fell below 0.5 ng/mL earlier (day 5) than in both CIDR-treated groups (2) and (3), where this occurred on day 8. Plasma oestradiol-17beta concentrations peaked on day 8 in the Ovsynch group and on day 9 in both CIDR-treated groups. The dominant follicle ovulated on day 10 in the Ovsynch group and on day 11 in both CIDR-treated groups. Thus, both CIDR-based protocols prevented premature ovulation before timed-AI in Ovsynch when the protocol was started a few days before luteolysis. This reflects the fact that progesterone levels remained high until the beef cattle were treated with PGF(2alpha).