The effects of propolis on antibody production by laying hens.

Propolis is a honeybee product showing several biological properties that enhance the immune response, depending on the concentration and intake period. Because propolis possesses an immunomodulatory action on mammals, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of propolis on the humoral immune response of laying hens by evaluating antibody production. Laying hens (ISA Brown) were divided into 5 groups with 7 birds each. Group 1 was a nonimmunized control, whereas birds in group 2 were immunized intravenously with SRBC, and those in groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated intraperitoneally with propolis (2, 10, and 50 mg/kg, respectively) on 3 consecutive days and then inoculated intravenously with SRBC. Hematological and serological analyses were carried out on d 0, 3, and 38. Natural and specific antibody levels were determined by hemagglutination with rabbit red blood cells and SRBC, respectively. Propolis-treated birds (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decline in heterophils and in the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. After SRBC immunization, significant increases in levels of IgG were observed in groups 4 and 5. Furthermore, higher levels of natural antibodies were observed in propolis-treated laying hens. The administration of propolis to laying hens increased the production of IgG specific to SRBC and natural antibodies, and could be used to increase antigen-specific antibody responses to vaccines.

Simvastatin improves morphological and functional recovery of sciatic nerve injury in Wistar rats.

AIM: The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of simvastatin on sciatic nerve regeneration in male Wistar Rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty animals were allocated into four groups: (1) control (C); (2) control+simvastatin (CS); (3) lesioned animals+sterile PBS (LC) and (4) lesioned animals+simvastatin (LS). Lesioned animals were submitted to crushing lesion of right sciatic nerve. Simvastatin (20mg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered for five days. Footprints were obtained weekly for evaluation of functional locomotor recovery by means of the Sciatic Function Index (SFI). Blood samples were obtained weekly for quantifying circulating leukocytes. Animals were sacrificed after 21 days for histological analyses of sciatic nerve and spleen. RESULTS: LS Animals presented increased SFI scores, decreased areas of oedema and mononuclear cell infiltration during Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration (7,14 and 21 days; P<0.05). Spleen weight and white pulp areas was increased in LC animals after 21 days. Increased numbers of circulating neutrophils were observed in simvastatin treated animals (CS e LS) at seven, 14 and 21 days, compared to non-treated groups (C and LC). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that simvastatin accelerates the morphological and functional recovery process of the peripheral nervous system interfering with innate and acquired immunity.