Evaluating the efficacy of a ferrous-ion-chelating peptide from Alaska pollock frame for the improvement of iron nutritional status in rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ferrous-ion-chelating peptides from Alaska pollock frames (APFP-Fe) on iron deficiency in anaemic rats. We hydrolysed the Alaska pollock frames to obtain a peptide with an average molecular weight of 822 Da. The bioavailability of APFP-Fe was tested using animal experiments. Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: an iron deficiency control group, a normal control group, and iron deficiency groups treated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) or low-, medium-, or high-dose APFP-Fe. Rats in the iron deficiency groups were fed an iron-deficient diet to establish the iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) model. After the model was established, different iron supplements were given to rats once per day via intragastric administration for 21 days. The results showed that APFP-Fe had restorative effects, returning the body weight, weight gain, height, and haematological parameters in IDA rats to normal levels. In addition, compared with FeSO4, APFP-Fe promoted significant weight gain and effectively improved haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin levels, and recovery of the capacity of iron binding with transferrin, especially at the medium and high doses. These findings suggest that APFP-Fe is an effective source of iron for improving the iron nutritional status in IDA rats and shows promise as a new source of iron supplementation.

Exogenous melatonin ameliorates hepatic injury in a rat cardiopulmonary bypass model.

Hepatic injury after cardiac surgery was considered to be a consequence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This study tested the hypothesis that melatonin could attenuate the hepatic injury in a rat CPB model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operation group, control group (given an equal volume of vehicle), low dose melatonin (10 mg/kg) treated group and high dose melatonin (20 mg/kg) treated group. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, at the cessation of CPB, and at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 24 h post-operation. Liver samples were harvested at 24 h after operation. The serum indices of the liver enzymes and systemic inflammation, as well as oxidative stress indices and the Ca++-ATPase activity of liver tissues were determined. In the control animals, the indices of liver enzymes, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increased after operation, and liver inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased as well. However, the activities of liver antioxidative enzymes and the concentration of glutathione (GSH) decreased remarkably. Results in melatonin group showed that melatonin reversed all the biochemical changes, but there was no significant difference between the melatonin-treated groups. In addition, histological findings further supported these results. All results indicated that application of exogenous melatonin during operation preserves liver function by reducing oxidative stress and the systemic inflammatory response.