Fabrication of Human Milk Fat Substitute: Based on the Similarity Evaluation Model and Computer Software.

We aimed to obtain the optimal formula for human milk fat substitute (HMFS) through a combination of software and an evaluation model and further verify its practicability through an animal experiment. The results showed that a total of 33 fatty acid (FA) and 63 triglyceride (TAG) molecular species were detected in vegetable oils. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, 18:1/16:0/18:1, 18:2/16:0/18:2, 18:1/18:1/18:1 and 18:1/18:2/18:1, were the main molecular species among the FAs and TAGs in the vegetable oils. Based on the HMFS evaluation model, the optimal mixed vegetable oil formula was blended with 21.3% palm oil, 2.8% linseed oil, 2.6% soybean oil, 29.9% rapeseed oil and 43.4% maize oil, with the highest score of 83.146. Moreover, there was no difference in the weight, blood routine indices or calcium and magnesium concentrations in the feces of the mice between the homemade mixed vegetable oil (HMVO) group and the commercial mixed vegetable oil (CMVO) group, while nervonic acid (C24:1) and octanoic acid (C8:0) were absorbed easily in the HMVO group. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the mixing of the different vegetable oils was feasible via a combination of computer software and an evaluation model and provided a new way to produce HMFS.

Corn oil and Soybean oil effect as vehicles on behavioral and oxidative stress profiles in developmentally exposed offspring mice.

Corn and soybean oils are among the most frequently used vehicles for water-insoluble compounds in toxicological studies. These two vegetable oils are nutrients and may induce some biological effects on animals that might interfere with the experimental results. However, their chronic effects on a developing brain have not been reported. This study aims to evaluate the neurobehavioral and brain biochemical effects of both oils on male and female Swiss albino mice. Pregnant female mice were exposed to 1 µl/g/d of either tap water, corn oil (CO), or soybean oil (SO) from early gestation (GD1) until weaning then offspring mice were exposed to the same treatment regimen until adulthood (PND70). Our results showed that developmental exposure to both oils induced body weight changes in offspring mice. In addition, we detected some behavioral abnormalities where both oil-treated groups showed a significant decrease in locomotor activity and greater levels of anxiety behavior. Moreover, our results suggest that continuous exposure to these oils may alter motor coordination, spatial memory and induce depression-like behavior in adult mice. These alterations were accompanied by increased malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in specific brain regions. Together, these data suggest that exposure to CO and SO as vehicles in developmental studies may interfere with the behavioral response and brain redox homeostasis in offspring mice.

Effects of different oil additives on water resistance of corn starch straws.

To investigate the effect of oil additives on improving the water resistance of corn starch straws, corn oil (CO), soybean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO), peanut oil (PO), lard (LD) and coconut oil (CCO) were chosen and compared the structure and properties of starch straws with different oil additives. Corn starch straws (CS), and starch straws supplemented with CO, SO, RO, PO, LD and CCO were prepared by thermoplastic extrusion. The results showed that the incorporation of oils effectively enhanced the water resistance of starch straws such as water absorption, water solubility and water swelling performance. Meanwhile, the flexural strength of starch straws significantly increased. There was no significant linear relationship among starch chain length, oil unsaturation and straw performance. Among seven starch straws, S-SO had the strongest hydrogen bond interaction (3289 cm-1) and relaxation time (0.96 ms). The S-CO had the highest relative crystallinity (16.82 %) and degree of double helix (1.535), hence resulting in the lowest water absorption and solubility values, the highest flexural strength (23.43 MPa), the highest ΔT value (9.93 °C) and ΔH value (4.79 J/g). S-RO had the highest thermal transition temperatures.

Incorporating edible oil during cooking tailors the microstructure and quality features of brown rice following heat moisture treatment.

While brown rice (BR) has numerous nutritional properties, the consumption potential of which is seriously restricted since the poor cooking quality and undesirable flavor. Here, edible oils (pork lard and corn oil, 1-5 wt%) were incorporated during the cooking of BR following heat moisture treatment. Incorporating corn oil rather than lard significantly ameliorated the texture properties (e.g. hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness) and sensory properties of cooked BR. Both lard- and corn oil-incorporated cooked BR showed obvious structural changes accompanied by the formation of amylose-lipid complexes during cooking. It was confirmed that the incorporation of lard and corn oil allowed a higher degree of short-range molecular order, more V-type starch crystallites, and elevated nano-structural arrangements. Additionally, a decreased hardness (from 559.04 g to 424.18 g and 385.91 g, respectively) and enriched resistant starch (RS) were also observed, the highest RS content (15.95 % and 16.32 %, respectively) was observed when 1 wt% of lard and corn oil were incorporated.

Low levels of Cd2+ combined with procymidone may cause ovarian damage in mice via unfolded protein response.

As no study about the combined effect of low levels of Cd2+ with procymidone (PCM) on organs and organisms, we investigated their actions on mouse-ovary in vivo and in vitro. Four-week mice were treated with corn oil for the control group, corn oil + 0.0045 mg/L Cd2+ (CdCl2 was dissolved in ultrapure water and freely consumed by mice) for Cd2+ group, 50 mg/kg/d PCM (suspended in corn oil and administered orally to mice) for PCM group, and 50 mg/kg/d PCM + 0.0015 (0.0045 and 0.0135) mg/L Cd2+ for L+ (M+ and H+) PCM group for 21 days. For in vitro experiment, the cultured ovaries were treated with acetone for the control group, 0.1% acetone + 8.4 µg/L Cd2+ for the Cd2+ group, 0.63 mg/L PCM (dissolved in acetone) for the PCM-group, and 0.63 mg/L PCM + 2.8 (8.4 and 25.2) µg/L Cd2+ for L+ (M+ and H+) PCM group for 7 days. Mouse body weight in each treatment group, the weight and volume of ovaries in all PCM groups were lower than the control. Both in vivo and in vitro, all-stage follicle numbers were lower in M+PCM and H+PCM groups, whereas the atretic follicles and CASPASE3/8 were higher; meanwhile, lower estradiol and progesterone and higher unfolded protein response (UPR) members in all PCM groups. L+, M+, and H+PCM groups had further ovarian damage and stronger UPR than PCM groups, as did M+PCM groups over Cd2+ groups. It is hypothesized low-level PCM and Cd2+ may mutually promote each other's triggered UPR and exacerbate ovarian damage.

Enhanced bioremediation of acid mine-influenced groundwater with micro-sized emulsified corn oil droplets (MOD) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio vulgaris) in a microcosm assay.

High concentrations of metals and sulfates in acid mine drainage (AMD) are the cause of the severe environmental hazard that mining operations pose to the surrounding ecosystem. Little study has been conducted on the cost-effective biological process for treating high AMD. The current research investigated the potential of the proposed carbon source and sulfate reduction bacteria (SRB) culture in achieving the bioremediation of sulfate and heavy metals. This work uses individual and combinatorial bioaugmentation and bio-stimulation methods to bioremediate acid-mine-influenced groundwater in batch microcosm experiments. Bioaugmentation and bio-stimulation methods included pure culture SRB (Desulfovibrio vulgaris) and microsized oil droplet (MOD) by emulsifying corn oil. The research tested natural attenuation (T 1), bioaugmentation (T2), biostimulation (T3), and bioaugmentation plus biostimulation (T4) for AM-contaminated groundwater remediation. Bioaugmentation and bio-stimulation showed the greatest sulfate reduction (75.3%) and metal removal (95-99%). Due to carbon supply scarcity, T1 and T2 demonstrated 15.7% and 27.8% sulfate reduction activities. Acetate concentrations in T3 and T4 increased bacterial activity by providing carbon sources. Metal bio-precipitation was substantially linked with sulfate reduction and cell growth. SEM-EDS study of precipitates in T3 and T4 microcosm spectra indicated peaks for S, Cd, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe, indicating metal-sulfide association for metal removal precipitates. The MOD provided a constant carbon source for indigenous bacteria, while Desulfovibrio vulgaris increased biogenic sulfide synthesis for heavy metal removal.

Gut microbiota contributes to bisphenol A-induced maternal intestinal and placental apoptosis, oxidative stress, and fetal growth restriction in pregnant ewe model by regulating gut-placental axis.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental contaminant with endocrine-disrupting properties that induce fetal growth restriction (FGR). Previous studies on pregnant ewes revealed that BPA exposure causes placental apoptosis and oxidative stress (OS) and decreases placental efficiency, consequently leading to FGR. Nonetheless, the response of gut microbiota to BPA exposure and its role in aggravating BPA-mediated apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and OS of the maternal placenta and intestine are unclear in an ovine model of gestation. RESULTS: Two pregnant ewe groups (n = 8/group) were given either a subcutaneous (sc) injection of corn oil (CON group) or BPA (5 mg/kg/day) dissolved in corn oil (BPA group) once daily, from day 40 to day 110 of gestation. The maternal colonic digesta and the ileum and placental tissue samples were collected to measure the biomarkers of autophagy, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, ERS, and OS. To investigate the link between gut microbiota and the BPA-induced FGR in pregnant ewes, gut microbiota transplantation (GMT) was conducted in two pregnant mice groups (n = 10/group) from day 0 to day 18 of gestation after removing their intestinal microbiota by antibiotics. The results indicated that BPA aggravates apoptosis, ERS and autophagy, mitochondrial function injury of the placenta and ileum, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in pregnant ewes. GMT indicated that BPA-induced ERS, autophagy, and apoptosis in the ileum and placenta are attributed to gut microbiota dysbiosis resulting from BPA exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the underlying role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and gut-placental axis behind the BPA-mediated maternal intestinal and placental apoptosis, OS, and FGR. The findings further provide novel insights into modulating the balance of gut microbiota through medication or probiotics, functioning via the gut-placental axis, to alleviate gut-derived placental impairment or FGR. Video Abstract.

Comparison of fish oil supplements and corn oil effects on serum lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil supplements compared to corn oil on serum lipid profiles by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched until 30 December 2022. Pooled effect sizes were reported as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Cochrane Collaboration's risk-of-bias tool was utilized to evaluate the quality of the studies. Lipid parameters, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), were assessed in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 16 eligible trials were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The results revealed that the fish oil supplements significantly reduced TG (WMD: - 25.50 mg/dl, 95% CI: - 42.44, - 8.57, P = 0.000) levels compared to corn oil. Also, in this study, fish oil supplements had a positive and significant effect on HDL (WMD: 2.54 mg/dl, 95% CI: 0.55, 4.52). There were no significant changes in TC and LDL. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed the effects of fish oil supplements on reducing TG and increasing HDL-c compared to corn oil. Further larger and well-designed RCTs are required to confirm these data.

Analysis of the cognitive and functional behavior of female rats in the periestropause after hormone therapy with estrogen.

Perimenopause is a critical period, with severe cycle irregularity and lower estrogen secretion altering redox state biomarkers, leading to behavioral changes. The estrogen hormonal therapy (EHT) being commonly used to alleviate climacteric effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze anxiolytic profile, recognition memory (short and long term), ambulation, redox status, cell synaptic activity in locus coeruleus and hippocampus of Wistar rats in the periestropause after EHT. Forty rats participated in the study; 20 were treated with corn oil (group 21Mo/Veh; corn oil/0.2 mL/sc; 2x/week) and 20 were submitted to EHT (group 21Mo/E2; 17ß-estradiol/15 µg/Kg/sc; 2x/week) for 120 days. Open field, elevated plus maze, object recognition (RO), and footprint tests were performed immediately before and at the end of the treatment period. From the decapitated brains, isolated hippocampus were destined for biochemical analysis, in turn, perfused brains were destined for histological analysis. The 21Mo/E2 group had a significantly greater total time in the central region and a significantly greater number of entries into the open arms compared to the 21Mo/Veh group, as in crossing, rearing and grooming behaviors, evidencing an anxiolytic profile. In the RO test, the 21Mo/Veh group decreased long-term memory, and the 21Mo/E2 group maintained the same index as at 17 months of age, in addition to a better balance of the hippocampal redox state, prevention of neuronal cell loss and better gait. Based on the results, it appears that exogenous E2 supplementation during periestropause may help preserve neurological functions and potentially prevent neuropsychological and neurodegenerative disorders.

Paternal p,p'-DDE exposure and pre-pubertal high-fat diet increases the susceptibility to fertility impairment and sperm Igf2 DMR2 hypo-methylation in male offspring.

The hypothesis of paternal origins of health and disease (POHaD) indicates that paternal exposure to adverse environment could alter the epigenetic modification in germ line, increasing the disease susceptibility in offspring or even in subsequent generations. p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) is an anti-androgenic chemical and male reproductive toxicant. Gestational p,p'-DDE exposure could impair reproductive development and fertility in male offspring. However, the effect of paternal p,p'-DDE exposure on fertility in male offspring remains uncovered. From postnatal day (PND) 35 to 119, male rats (F0) were given 10 mg/body weight (b.w.) p,p'-DDE or corn oil by gavage. Male rats were then mated with the control females to generate male offspring. On PND35, the male offspring were divided into 4 groups according whether to be given the high-fat diet (HF): corn oil treatment with control diet (C-C), p,p'-DDE treatment with control diet (DDE-C), corn oil treatment with high-fat diet (C-HF) or p,p'-DDE treatment with high-fat diet (DDE-HF) for 35 days. Our results indicated that paternal p,p'-DDE exposure did not affect the male fertility of male offspring directly, but decreased sperm quality and induced testicular apoptosis after the high-fat diet treatment. Further analysis demonstrated that paternal exposure to p,p'-DDE and pre-pubertal high-fat diet decreased sperm Igf2 DMR2 methylation and gene expression in male offspring. Hence, paternal exposure to p,p'-DDE and pre-pubertal high-fat diet increases the susceptibility to male fertility impairment and sperm Igf2 DMR2 hypo-methylation in male offspring, posing a significant implication in the disease etiology.

Dietary L-carnitine supplementation changes lipid metabolism and glucose utilization of Rhynchocypris lagowskii fed diets with different lipid sources.

The widely available crop oil is an effective alternative to the increasingly scarce marine fish oil. However, simple alternative strategies have led to declining growth and the edible value of farmed fish. It is worthwhile to explore the effects of micro supplements in diets to improve the tolerance of fish to different dietary lipid sources, which finally optimizes the feeding strategies. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of L-carnitine and dietary oil conditions on nutrient composition, lipid metabolism, and glucose regulation of Rhynchocypris lagowskii. Four diets were prepared according to fish oil, fish oil supplemented with L-carnitine, corn oil, and corn oil supplemented with L-carnitine, and FO, LCFO, CO, and LCCO were labeled, respectively. R. lagowskii was fed experimental diets for 8 weeks, and the glucose tolerance test was performed. The CO diet significantly resulted in higher crude lipid content in muscle but a lower level of serum lipid parameters of R. lagowskii than the FO diet. However, dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced the crude lipid content in the hepatopancreas and muscle of the fish fed with the CO diet yet increased the serum lipid parameters. Additionally, the crude lipid content of muscle was reduced in the fish fed with an FO diet supplemented with L-carnitine. Compared with the FO diet, the CO diet significantly reduced the ratio of n3/n6 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the hepatopancreas and muscle of R.lagowskii. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced the contents of total saturated fatty acids and total monounsaturated fatty acids in hepatopancreas under both dietary lipid sources. The CO diet significantly up-regulated the expression of genes related to lipid uptake and adipogenesis in hepatopancreas, including lipoprotein lipase (lpl), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha (accα), and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (srebp1), compared with the FO diet. While dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly down-regulated the expressions of lpl, accα, srebp1, and fatty acid synthase in hepatopancreas and muscle of fish under both dietary lipid sources, along with up-regulated expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in hepatopancreas. Moreover, the fish fed with a CO diet significantly increased the expression of glucose uptake and clearance and significantly down-regulated the expressions of glucose regulation-related genes, including glucose transporter 1, glycogen synthase 1, and phosphofructokinase in hepatopancreas and muscle, resulting in slower glucose uptake and clearance than fish fed with FO diet. Nevertheless, dietary L-carnitine supplementation up-regulated the expression of gluconeogenesis-related genes, including glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the hepatopancreas of R. lagowskii under both dietary lipid sources. In conclusion, a higher dietary n6 PUFA resulted in lipid deposition, decreased serum lipid parameters, and limited serum glucose utilization of R. lagowskii. While the regulatory effect of L-carnitine on lipid metabolism and glucose utilization of R. lagowskii varies with dietary lipid sources and tissues.

Multilocus functional characterization of indigenous and exotic inbreds for dgat1-2, fatb, ge2 and wri1a genes affecting kernel oil and fatty acid profile in maize.

Demand for maize oil is progressively increasing due to its diverse industrial applications, aside from its primary role in human nutrition and animal feed. Oil content and composition are two crucial determinants of maize oil in the international market. As kernel oil in maize is a complex quantitative trait, improving this trait presents a challenge for plant breeders and biotechnologists. Here, we characterized a set of 292 diverse maize inbreds of both indigenous and exotic origin by exploiting functional polymorphism of the dgat1-2, fatb, ge2, and wri1a genes governing kernel oil in maize. Genotyping using gene-based functional markers revealed a lower frequencies of dgat1-2 (0.15) and fatb (0.12) mutant alleles and a higher frequencies of wild-type alleles (Dgat1-2: 0.85; fatB: 0.88). The favorable wri1a allele was conserved across genotypes, while its wild-type allele (WRI1a) was not detected. In contrast, none of the genotypes possessed the ge2 favorable allele. The frequency of favorable alleles of both dgat1-2 and fatb decreased to 0.03 when considered together. Furthermore, pairwise protein-protein interactions among target gene products were conducted to understand the effect of one protein on another and their responses to kernel oil through functional enrichments. Thus, the identified maize genotypes with dgat1-2, fatb, and wri1a favourable alleles, along with insights gained through the protein-protein association network, serve as prominent and unique genetic resources for high-oil maize breeding programs. This is the first comprehensive report on the functional characterization of diverse genotypes at the molecular and protein levels.

Development of controlled-release antioxidant poly (lactic acid) bilayer active film with different distributions of α-tocopherol and its application in corn oil preservation.

The antioxidant poly (lactic acid) bilayer active films with a different distribution of α-tocopherol (TOC) in two layers (outer layer/inner layer: 0%/6%, 2%/4%, 3%/3%, 4%/2%, 6%/0%) were developed. The effects of TOC distribution on the structural, physicochemical, mechanical, antioxidant and release properties of the films and their application in corn oil packaging were investigated. The different distributions of TOC showed insignificant effects on the color, transparency, tensile strength and oxygen and water vapor barrier properties of the films, but it affected the release behavior of TOC from the films into 95% ethanol and the oxidation degree of corn oil. The film with higher TOC in outer layer showed a slower release rate. The corn oil packaged by the film containing 4% TOC in outer layer and 2% TOC in inner layer exhibited the best oxidative stability. This concept showed a great potential to develop controlled-release active films for food packaging.

Mitigation of cold stress in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through dietary lipids supplementation: a preliminary network meta-analysis.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that water temperature can significantly impact the dietary fatty acid requirements of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Therefore, this study assessed the effectiveness of different dietary lipid sources on the growth performance of Nile tilapia reared at suboptimal temperatures. A network meta-analysis was performed, including searches of PubMed and Scopus from inception to January 2022, for trials that evaluated the effects of lipid sources on cold-stressed Nile tilapia. The Bayesian hierarchical framework was used to pool and compare the effect sizes of growth parameters such as weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Furthermore, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was obtained to calculate the probability that each lipid source was the most effective against cold stress. All subsequent numbers refer to comparisons with diets containing only fish oil. Dietary Aurantiochytrium significantly increased weight gain (SMD = 2.00, CrI: 0.70 to 3.40). In contrast, diets containing coconut oil led to significantly lower weight gain (SMD = - 3.30, CrI: - 6.00 to - 0.63) and higher FCR (SMD = 17.0, CrI: 6.70 to 27.0). Additionally, dietary corn oil was associated with a decrease in feed intake (SMD = - 2.32, CrI: - 3.91 to - 0.80), while a combination of fish and corn oil reduced FCR (SMD = - 5.70, CrI: - 11.0 to - 0.81). In general, the analysis of SUCRA values revealed that in cold-stressed Nile tilapia, Aurantiochytrium, sunflower oil, and the combination of fish and corn oil were the most effective lipid sources for improving growth at suboptimal temperatures. The results of the current study can serve as a basis for future studies that focus on the use of dietary lipid sources to mitigate cold stress in Nile tilapia.

Green Tea Polyphenols Alleviate Kidney Injury Induced by Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer. Studies have revealed that DEHP exposure can cause kidney damage. Green tea is among the most popular beverages in China. Green tea polyphenols (GTPs) have been proven to have therapeutic effects on organ damage induced by heavy metal exposure. However, few studies have reported on GTP-relieving DEHP-induced kidney damage. METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice aged 6-8 weeks were treated with distilled water (control group), 1,500 mg/kg/d DEHP + corn oil (model group), 1,500 mg/kg/d DEHP + corn oil + 70 mg/kg GTP (treatment group), corn oil (oil group), and 70 mg/kg GTP (GTP group) by gavage for 8 weeks, respectively. The renal function of mice and renal tissue histopathology of each group were evaluated. The renal tissues of mice in the model, treatment, and control groups were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. We calculated the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) using the limma R package, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to predict immune infiltration, the starBase database was used to screen the miRNA-mRNA regulatory axis, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to verify protein expression. RESULTS: GTP alleviated the deterioration of renal function, renal inflammation and fibrosis, and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum lesions induced by DEHP in mice. Differential immune infiltrations of plasma, dendritic, T, and B cells were noted between the model and treatment groups. We found that three differentially expressed miRNAs (mmu-miR-383-5p, mmu-miR-152-3p, and mmu-miR-144-3p), three differentially expressed mRNAs (Ddit4, Dusp1, and Snx18), and three differentially expressed proteins (Ddit4, Dusp1, and Snx18) played crucial roles in the miRNA-mRNA-protein regulatory axes when GTPs mitigate DEHP-induced kidney damage in mice. CONCLUSION: GTP can alleviate DEHP-induced kidney damage and regulate immune cell infiltration. We screened four important miRNA-mRNA-protein regulatory axes of GTP, mitigating DEHP-induced kidney damage in mice.

Dietary flaxseed oil induces production of adiponectin in visceral fat and prevents obesity in mice.

Induction of obesity by dietary fats and oils differs according to the type of fat. Adiponectin is believed to be related to obesity prevention. We hypothesized that flaxseed oil is important for preventing obesity and producing adiponectin. To clarify this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between obesity and different fat sources in mice fed diets with 6 types of fat and oils. C57BL/6J mice were given a control diet containing 5% corn oil or a high-fat diet containing 20% of either lard, palm oil, rapeseed oil, oleate-rich safflower oil, corn oil, or flaxseed oil for 14 weeks. In another experiment, mice were given a control diet and rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage for 1 week. At the end of study, plasma adiponectin and expression of fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white and brown adipose tissue and the liver were measured. Dietary flaxseed oil, which is rich in α-linolenic acid, did not induce obesity. Flaxseed oil resulted in increased ß-oxidation-related factors in epididymal white adipose tissue, decreased fatty acid synthesis-related factors in the liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue following increase of plasma adiponectin. The results suggested that increase in plasma adiponectin after intake of flaxseed oil may be due to altered expression of AdipoQ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in epididymal white adipose tissue. Flaxseed oil increased expression of adiponectin in visceral fat and regulated obesity-controlling fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white adipose tissue and liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue.

Fish oil minimises feed intake and improves insulin sensitivity in Zucker fa/fa rats.

Long-chain n-3 PUFA (LC n-3 PUFA) prevent, in rodents, insulin resistance (IR) induced by a high-fat and/or fructose diet but not IR induced by glucocorticoids. In humans, contrasting effects have also been reported. We investigated their effects on insulin sensitivity, feed intake (FI) and body weight gain in genetically insulin resistant male obese (fa/fa) Zucker (ZO) rats during the development of obesity. ZO rats were fed a diet supplemented with 7 % fish oil (FO) + 1 % corn oil (CO) (wt/wt) (ZOFO), while the control group was fed a diet containing 8 % fat from CO (wt/wt) (ZOCO). Male lean Zucker (ZL) rats fed either FO (ZLFO) or CO (ZLCO) diet were used as controls. FO was a marine-derived TAG oil containing EPA 90 mg/g + DHA 430 mg/g. During an oral glucose tolerance test, glucose tolerance remained unaltered by FO while insulin response was reduced in ZOFO only. Liver insulin sensitivity (euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp + 2 deoxyglucose) was improved in ZOFO rats, linked to changes in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression, activity and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. FI in response to intra-carotid insulin/glucose infusion was decreased similarly in ZOFO and ZOCO. Hypothalamic ceramides levels were lower in ZOFO than in ZOCO. Our study demonstrates that LC n-3 PUFA can minimise weight gain, possibly by alleviating hypothalamic lipotoxicity, and liver IR in genetically obese Zucker rats.

Body weight gain and control: beneficial effect of extra virgin olive oil versus corn oil in an experimental model of mammary cancer.

Obesity is a known risk factor for breast cancer, the most common malignancy among women worldwide. We have previously described different effects of high-fat diets on mammary experimental carcinogenesis. In this work, we analyzed the animal growth data obtained in six experimental assays, in healthy and carcinogen-induced rats undergoing different dietary interventions. The animals were fed with three experimental diets administered at different periods of development: a control low-fat diet, and two isocaloric high-fat diets (rich in corn oil or in extravirgin olive oil -EVOO-). Weekly weight throughout the development of 818 animals have been compiled and reanalyzed using adjusted mathematical models. Molecular mechanisms have been investigated: ethanolamides in small intestine, neuropeptides controlling satiety in hypothalamus, and proteins controlling lipid metabolism in adipose and mammary tissues. The results indicated that the effect of diets depended on type of lipid, timing of intervention and health status. The high corn oil diet, but not the high EVOO diet, increased body weight and mass, especially if administered from weaning, in healthy animals and in those that received a moderate dose of carcinogen. The potential protective effect of EVOO on weight maintenance may be related to anorexigenic neuropeptides such as oxytocin and lipolysis/deposition balance in adipose tissue (increasing phospho-PKA, HSL, MGL and decreasing FAS). In animals with cancer, body weight gain was related to the severity of the disease. Taken together, our results suggest that EVOO has a beneficial effect on body weight maintenance in both health and cancer.

The ameliorative effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles on chlorpyrifos induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model: Biochemical, molecular and immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used insecticide that causes toxicity to living organisms through the production of free radicals. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) are a new antioxidant agent that has proved therapeutic effects. We evaluated the effect of CeO2NPs on CPF hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Forty rats were randomized into four groups. Group I: rats received 1 ml corn oil by gastric tube once daily and 0.5 ml PBS by intra-peritoneal injection twice a week for 4 weeks. Group II: received CeO2NPs 0.5 mg/kg in PBS by i.p. injection, twice weekly for four weeks. Group III: were treated with oral administration of CPF 13.5 mg/kg in corn oil daily for 4 weeks. Group IV: received CPF as in group III, then each animal received CeO2NPs twice weekly for four weeks as in group II. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, rats were anesthetized and sera were collected for liver enzymes assessment. Afterwards, rats were sacrificed, livers were excised, the right lobe of each liver was fixed for immunohistochemical studies, and the left lobe was homogenized for oxidative profile assessment and molecular analysis. RESULTS: CPF group showed significant increase in liver transaminases, disturbance of the oxidative profile with up-regulation of BAX expression and down-regulation in the Bcl-2, Gadd45 and NFE2L2. CPF caused severe histopathological liver damage as well as significant increase in anti-Caspase 3 and TNF immunostaining. The CeO2NPs treated group revealed significant improvement of all previous parameters. CONCLUSION: CeO2NPs could alleviate CPF hepatoxicity through decreasing expression of the inflammatory and apoptotic proteins and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Reduction of excessive unfolded protein response by 4-phenylbutyric acid may mitigate procymidone-induced testicular damage in mice by changing the levels of circRNA Scar and circZc3h4.

Procymidone (PCM) exposure below the no-observed-effect level triggers changes in circRNA Scar and circZc3h4 and overactivation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in mice, culminating in testicular injury. The 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA) is known to stabilize proteins and reduce the UPR. This study employed an in vitro system in which mouse testes were cultured with 1 × 10-5 M PCM and varying concentrations (0, 20, 40, and 80 mM) of 4-PBA; 4-week-old male mice were subsequently treated with 100 mg/kg/d PCM (suspended in corn oil) and/or 100 mg/kg/d 4-PBA for 21 d, consecutively. The treatments were as follows: the negative control (NC) group was orally administered corn oil; the positive control (PC) group was orally administered PCM; the 4-PBA group was intraperitoneally injected with 4-PBA; the 4-PBA-I group was orally administered PCM and 4-PBA simultaneously; the 4-PBA-II group received daily administration of 4-PBA 24 h prior to PCM; and the 4-PBA-III group was intraperitoneally injected with 4-PBA for 7 d after 21 d of PCM administration. However, the 4-PBA intervention groups showed no considerable changes in the overall or testicular appearance of mice. In vitro, 4-PBA inhibited the PCM-induced testicular injury, with the most significant effect observed at 80 mM. In vivo, the 4-PBA-III group exhibited the best in vivo effects. Our findings indicate that 4-PBA conferred testicular protection by decreasing PCM-induced circRNA Scar, elevating circZc3h4, and suppressing UPR both in vitro and in vivo. It has been hypothesized that 4-PBA mitigates testicular damage by reducing excessive UPR levels.