Effects of short-term dietary restriction and glutamine supplementation in vitro on the modulation of inflammatory properties.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary restriction (DR) is a nutritional intervention that exerts profound effects on biochemical and immunologic parameters, modulating some inflammatory properties. Glutamine (GLN) is a conditionally essential amino acid that can modulate inflammatory properties. However, there is a lack of data evaluating the effects of DR and GLN supplementation, especially in relation to inflammatory cytokine production and the expression of transcription factors such as nuclear factor (NF)-κB. METHODS: We subjected 3-mo-old male Balb/c mice to DR by reducing their food intake by 30%. DR animals lost weight and showed reduced levels of serum triacylglycerols, glucose, cholesterol, and calcium as well as a reduction in bone density. Additionally, blood, peritoneal, and spleen cellularity were reduced, lowering the number of peritoneal F4/80- and CD86-positive cells and the total number of splenic CD4- and CD8-positive cells. RESULTS: The production of interleukin (IL)-10 and the expression of NF-κB in splenic cells were not affected by DR or by GLN supplementation. However, peritoneal macrophages from DR animals showed reduced IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α production and increased IL-10 production with reduced phosphorylation of NF-κB expression. Additionally, GLN was able to modulate cytokine production by peritoneal cells from the control group, although no effects were observed in cells from the DR group. CONCLUSION: DR induces biochemical and immunologic changes, in particular by reducing IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α production by macrophages and clearly upregulating IL-10 production, whereas GLN supplementation did not modify these parameters in cells from DR animals.

A inferência da L'arginina no coração de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) gestantes e no desenvolvimento fetal / The L'arginine influence over the heart of pregnant spontaneously hipertensive rats (SHR) and their fetal development

Objetivo ­ Investigar os efeitos da L-arginina sobre as adaptações cardíacas em ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) gestantes e o desenvolvimento fetal, analisar histologicamente o ventrículo esquerdo com ou sem suplementação; avaliar a massa corporal; determinar o peso úmido, comprimento, diâmetro do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) e espessura do septo intraventricular do coração e investigar o número de neonatos. Métodos ­ Foram utilizados 6 ratos machos e 24 ratas fêmeas SHR. As SHR foram divididas em três grupos: 1) Grupo Controle: sem suplementação de L-ARG (1:8); 2) L-ARG 2%: com suplementação de L-ARG (9:16) oferecida na água de beber; 3) L-ARG 4%: com L-ARG (17:24) oferecida na água de beber. A análise histológica foi realizada com coloração hematoxilina e eosina (HE). Resultados ­ Os resultados demonstraram a redução da HVE nos animais tratados. A exposição dos animais a concentrações de L-arginina em 20g/l favoreceu maior número de neonatos. O grupo L-ARG 4% obteve a maior redução do peso corporal. Conclusão ­ Este estudo confirma a importância da dose para se alcançar os efeitos desejados.

Objective ­ Investigate the effects of L-arginine on cardiac adaptations in SHR pregnant women and fetal development; analyze histologically the left ventricle with or without supplementation; assess body mass; determine the wet weight, length, diameter of the left ventricle (LV) and thickness of the interventricular septum of the heart and investigate the number of newborns. Methods ­ 6 male rats and 24 female SHR rats were used. SHR were divided into three groups: 1) Control group: no supplementation of L-Arg (1:8); 2) L-ARG 2%: supplemented with L-ARG (9:16) offered in the drinking water; 3) L-ARG 4%: L-Arg (17:24) provided in the drinking water. Histological analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Results ­ The results showed a reduction of LVH in the treated animals. Exposure of animals to L-arginine concentration of 20g/l favored a greater number of neonates. L-arg% Group 4 had the highest body weight reduction. Conclusions ­ Results confirm the importance of the dose to achieve the desired effects.

Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale. l.) and Experimental Hepatic Carcinogenesis: A Short-term Carcinogenesis Model Study.

Comfrey or Symphytum officinale (L.) (Boraginaceae) is a very popular plant used for therapeutic purposes. Since the 1980s, its effects have been studied in long-term carcinogenesis studies, in which Comfrey extract is administered at high doses during several months and the neoplastic hepatic lesions are evaluated. However, the literature on this topic is very poor considering the studies performed under short-term carcinogenesis protocols, such as the 'resistant hepatocyte model' (RHM). In these studies, it is possible to observe easily the phenomena related to the early phases of tumor development, since pre-neoplastic lesions (PNLs) rise in about 1-2 months of chemical induction. Herein, the effects of chronic oral treatment of rats with 10% Comfrey ethanolic extract were evaluated in a RHM. Wistar rats were sequentially treated with N-nitrosodiethylamine (ip) and 2-acetilaminofluorene (po), and submitted to hepatectomy to induce carcinogenesis promotion. Macroscopic/microscopic quantitative analysis of PNL was performed. Non-parametric statistical tests (Mann-Whitney and χ(2)) were used, and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Comfrey treatment reduced the number of pre-neoplastic macroscopic lesions up to 1 mm (P ≤ 0.05), the percentage of oval cells (P = 0.0001) and mitotic figures (P = 0.007), as well as the number of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) positive cells (P = 0.0001) and acidophilic pre-neoplastic nodules (P = 0.05). On the other hand, the percentage of cells presenting megalocytosis (P = 0.0001) and vacuolar degeneration (P = 0.0001) was increased. Scores of fibrosis, glycogen stores and the number of nucleolus organizing regions were not altered. The study indicated that oral treatment of rats with 10% Comfrey alcoholic extract reduced cell proliferation in this model.