The potential use of plasma glutamate dehydrogenase activity for the evaluation of hepatic disease in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

A reference interval for plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) (E.C. 1.4.1.3) activity, of 0-8 IU/L, was established for the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus). An automated modification of a commercial manual assay was used. This enzyme is considered liver specific in humans and numerous domestic animals, due to its organ distribution. A similar distribution was found in cockatiels in this study. Maximal enzyme activity was recovered from liver and kidney homogenate supernatants. Minimal activity was detected in skeletal muscle preparations. These results suggest a potential use for plasma GD activity in the evaluation of hepatocelluar injury/necrosis in cockatiels.     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Evaluation of β‐carotene assimilation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Although leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are commonly kept under human care, their vitamin requirements are largely unknown. Many invertebrate preys display a low vitamin A concentration; thus, gut‐loading insects with vitamin A or carotenoids is a common practice. The objective of this prospective experimental study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with β‐carotene, including prey gut‐loading, leads to sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage and prevents epithelial squamous metaplasia development in leopard geckos. Ten clinically healthy female leopard geckos were randomly divided in two groups with various supplementations: a group receiving vitamin A supplementation and a group receiving β‐carotene. Insects were gut‐loaded continuously with a supplement containing vitamin A or β‐carotene, depending on the group. Oral supplementation with cod liver oil or carrot juice was administered weekly to each lizard from “vitamin A group” and “carotenoid group” respectively. After 10 weeks of supplementation, surgical hepatic biopsies were obtained in three geckos of each group while the two remaining geckos were euthanized to undergo complete necropsy. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was determined for each lizard (n = 10) by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography. Histopathology revealed hepatocellular vacuolization and vitellogenic follicles in five females. Epithelial squamous metaplasia was not observed in any of the geckos. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was significantly higher in the carotenoid‐supplemented group than in the vitamin A‐supplemented group (p = 0.03). Our results suggest that in leopard geckos, dietary supplementation with β‐carotene allows sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage.     

Hepatic lipidosis: Liver characteristics and acute phase proteins in affected turkeys

The hepatic lipidosis (HL) in fattening turkeys is a disease has been known for a long time, but the cause and pathogenesis is still not clarified. A recent study reported unexplained high levels of iron in liver tissue of fattening turkeys suffering from HL. In this study, the iron status, possible infectious or inflammatory influences in form of an acute phase reaction and the analysis of fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of turkeys affected by HL were examined. Three cases of HL on three different fattening turkey farms were investigated during the outbreak of the disease. Clinically affected and non-affected animals were subjected to a pathological examination, where the diagnosis HL or non-affected was made. In total, 70 birds were examined (40 with HL, 30 without HL) and blood and liver samples were taken. Additionally, samples from 15 slaughtered birds were taken as a further control group. In liver tissue, the iron content and the content of long-chain fatty acids were determined; in blood samples, ferritin and transferrin were measured. The iron content in liver tissue was more than three times higher for animals with HL than among non-affected animals and the control group. The transferrin levels were lowest for animals with HL, highest in the control group and in between for non-affected animals. The fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of affected animals indicated a shift from polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group and the non-affected animals. Overall, the non-affected animals of a flock affected by HL were similar to the healthy animals of the abattoir. The low acute phase protein levels for animals with HL together with high iron contents could indicate a previous malnutrition/starvation period and/or severe liver damage for those animals suffering from HL.     

Dexmedetomidine attenuates acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10 μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were obviously increase in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group, which were obviously increased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group, which was obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, ethanol induced marked liver histological injury, which was less pronounced in E+M and E+H groups. CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP2E1 and NF-κB expression.     

七彩山鸡腹脂与皮下脂肪、肌脂率、肝脂率的关系

在相同的条件下,饲养80羽公七彩山鸡和120羽母七彩山鸡,并于10周龄屠宰测定其腹脂、腹脂率和颈部、胸部、腿部皮下脂肪重;用乙醚抽提法测定了腿肌、胸肌、肝脏的含脂率。结果表明：腹脂重、腹胀率与腿部、胸部、颈部皮下脂肪呈显著的正相关（P＜0．05或P＜0．01）;而腹脂重、腹胀率、皮下脂肪重与腿肌、胸肌含脂率的相关性不显著（P＞0.05）;而与肝脏含脂率表现为显著的正相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）。     

饲粮生物素水平对团头鲂幼鱼肠道消化酶活性、胴体组成及肝脏抗氧化能力的影响

选择初重为201±001 g团头鲂幼鱼720尾,分别饲喂生物素添加量为0,002,005,016,062和249 mg·kg-1等氮等能的纯化饲料,研究饲料中添加生物素对团头鲂幼鱼肠道消化酶活力、胴体组成及肝脏抗氧化的影响。结果表明: 团头鲂幼鱼肠道脂肪酶和蛋白酶活力随生物素含量的升高呈现先增加后下降的变化,它们分别在生物素含量为062和016 mg·kg-1时达到最大值。饲料生物素含量为016 mg·kg-1组的团头鲂幼鱼与对照组相比具有较低的水分和较高的粗脂肪、粗蛋白含量,差异显著(P<005)。饲料中生物素含量从0上升至005 mg·kg-1时,GSH含量,GSH Px、SOD活性显著升高,差异显著(P<005);当其含量进一步升高至249 mg·kg-1时,三者均无显著变化(P>005)。综上所述,饲料中添加适宜浓度生物素可以提高团头鲂幼鱼肠道脂肪、蛋白质的消化能力,胴体粗脂肪和粗蛋白含量及肝脏抗氧化能力。     

LPS-TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling mediates alcohol-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis results from liver inflammation and progresses to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is known that nonalcoholic liver disease is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2)–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether alcoholic liver disease is also mediated by this pathway. To this end, we first established rat models of liver fibrosis by administering alcohol. Next, the rats were injected with anti-TLR4 and anti-MD-2 antibodies. Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the activation of the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Moreover, the expression of molecules related to liver fibrosis was estimated. The morphology of rat liver tissue was observed through hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining. For in vitro studies, Kupffer cells (KCs) isolated from the liver were transfected with si-TLR4 and si-MD-2 and co-cultured with HSCs to determine the activity of HSCs. It was found that alcohol treatment activated the TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway and upregulated the molecules associated with liver fibrosis. However, inhibition of TLR4 and MD-2 partially reversed this trend. Notably, in vitro studies indicated that knockdown of TLR4 and MD-2 in KCs partially inhibited LPS-induced activation of KCs and HSCs. Overall, this study showed that alcohol induces liver fibrosis via the LPS-TLR4/MD-2–TNF-α signaling pathway.     

The liver lipid fatty acid profiles of seven Indian Ocean shark species

We have assessed the fatty acid profiles of the livers from seven shark species (Carcharias taurus (raggedtooth/grey nurse), Carcharhinus limbatus (blacktip), Carcharhinus obscurus (dusky), Carcharhinus leucas (Zambezi/bull), Sphyrna lewini (scalloped hammerhead), Carcharhinus brevipinna (spinner), and Galeocerdo cuvieri (tiger)) found off the east coast of South Africa. While there was generally little variation between the species, Carcharias taurus showed fatty acid profiles that would be most favourable in human nutrition, in that it showed both low saturated (SFA) (37.1%) and high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (26.6%) levels. However, all species showed profiles rich in PUFA, thus utilising the liver oil from sharks caught as part of the bycatch when fishing for teleost species would avoid unnecessary wastage of a potentially valuable resource. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.