Co-culture of rat luteal cells with islet cells enhances islet viability and revascularization.

Islet cell transplantation is a major treatment strategy for type I diabetes, and has proven to be effective for maintaining glucose homeostasis. However, this treatment requires an extended period of immunosuppression to prevent rejection and recurrent transplantation to maintain function. Thus, to enhance the properties of transplanted islet cells, we examined the effect of the co-culture of luteal cells, which secrete progesterone, on islet cell viability, functionality, and revascularization. It was found that islet viability and functionality were higher in the co-cultured group than in single cultures of islets at 48 and 96 h, in parallel with increased progesterone and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from luteal cells. In the co-culture groups, VEGF levels at 48 and 96 h and CD31 levels at 48 h were significantly higher than those in the islet groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels were increased at 96 h (p < 0.001). Thus, co-culture with luteal cells may increase islet vascularity by enhancing VEGF and bFGF levels for up to 96 h, which could help to markedly increase the pre-transplantation time to allow for effective immunosuppression therapy. This method may also promote islet cell viability and functionality. Progesterone and angiogenic factors secreted from luteal cells may be responsible for these positive effects.

Effects of Supplemental Epigallocatechin Gallate in the Diet of Broilers Exposed to Fluoride Intoxication.

We evaluated the effects of dietary epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the performance, biochemical parameters, and liver histopathology of fluoride-intoxicated broiler chickens. In total, 160 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross PM3 strain) were collected and assigned to four groups (40 animals each), with four replicates. The control group received a basal diet; the F group received 800 mg/kg fluoride; the EGCG group received 400 mg/kg EGCG; and the EGCG+F group received 400 mg/kg EGCG and 800 mg/kg fluoride. The live weight (LW) of F-treated chicks was significantly lower than that of the controls. In the F-treated groups, feed intake (FI) and LW values were lower, but the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher than those of the controls. The ratio of heart weight to LW was found to be the highest in the F-treated groups. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in the F-treated groups were significantly higher, whereas the increase in total cholesterol levels was insignificant than those in the control group. In the EGCG+F group, AST, total cholesterol, and TOS levels decreased to a level comparable to those in the control group. Histopathological evaluation revealed that there were mild changes in the portal region in the EGCG+F group; additionally, there was an improvement in liver morphology in the EGCG+F group compared to that in the F group. Thus, EGCG has potent antioxidant and regenerative effects that can ameliorate the detrimental effects of fluoride toxicity on blood parameters and the liver.