Ginkgo biloba leaf extract improves growth, intestinal histomorphometry, immunity, antioxidant status and modulates transcription of cytokine genes in hapa-reared Oreochromis niloticus.

This study was designed to evaluate the impacts of dietary supplementation with Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBL) on the growth, intestinal histomorphometry, immunity, antioxidant status, and expression of cytokine genes in Nile tilapia reared in the hapas. A control diet was enriched with different GBL levels (0.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0 g/kg) to form 4 experimental diets and were fed to Nile tilapia for 8 weeks. The findings illustrated that dietary GBL significantly enhanced the growth and feed utilization indices compared to those reared in the control group. A dose-dependent increase of hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities alongside a decline of hepatic malondialdehyde levels were recorded in GBL groups compared with the control. Serum lysozyme activity, complement C3, and immunoglobulin M levels were significantly increased in GBL groups compared with the control group. Moreover, dietary GBL maintained the normal intestinal and hepatopancreatic histological structures with a significant increase of some histomorphometric measurements of proximal, middle, and distal intestinal parts of the treated fish. Interestingly, dietary GBL supplementation significantly increased the mRNA expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (INF-γ) genes in the splenic tissues of treated fish over the control group. To conclude, it could be recommended to use GBL as a functional phytogenic feed additive to improve the growth, hepatic and intestinal health status, hepatic antioxidant status, and immunity of treated Nile tilapia. Besides, the second order polynomial regression revealed that 7.50 g GBL/kg diet is the optimal inclusion level to improve growth with no negative impacts on the overall health condition of treated Nile tilapia.

Quantification of clinically applicable stimulation parameters for precision near-organ neuromodulation of human splenic nerves.

Neuromodulation is a new therapeutic pathway to treat inflammatory conditions by modulating the electrical signalling pattern of the autonomic connections to the spleen. However, targeting this sub-division of the nervous system presents specific challenges in translating nerve stimulation parameters. Firstly, autonomic nerves are typically embedded non-uniformly among visceral and connective tissues with complex interfacing requirements. Secondly, these nerves contain axons with populations of varying phenotypes leading to complexities for axon engagement and activation. Thirdly, clinical translational of methodologies attained using preclinical animal models are limited due to heterogeneity of the intra- and inter-species comparative anatomy and physiology. Here we demonstrate how this can be accomplished by the use of in silico modelling of target anatomy, and validation of these estimations through ex vivo human tissue electrophysiology studies. Neuroelectrical models are developed to address the challenges in translation of parameters, which provides strong input criteria for device design and dose selection prior to a first-in-human trial.

Effects of dietary supplementation with herbal extract mixture on growth performance, organ weight and intestinal morphology in weaning piglets.

BACKGROUND: Many countries are increasingly prohibiting the addition of antibiotics in livestock diets. Therefore, herb extracts have gradually drawn attention to substitute antibiotics. Our present study aimed to determine the effects of herbal extract mixture (HEM) in dietary on growth performance, organ weight, intestinal morphology and intestinal nutrient transporters in weaned pigs. METHODS: 27 piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; Body Weight (BW) = 5.99 ± 0.13 kg) were weaned at day 21 and randomly divided into three groups (n = 9 piglets/group). All piglets received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients for 14 days. The three groups were the control (no additive), the antibiotics (375 mg/kg chlortetracycline, 20%, 500 mg/kg enramycin, 4%, 1,500 mg/kg oxytetracycline calcium, 50%) and the HEM group (1000 mg/kg extract mixture of golden-and-silver honeysuckle, huangqi, duzhong leaves and dangshen). After 14 d of treatment, we collected tissue samples to measure organ weight, intestinal parameters, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal mRNA expression of nutrient transporters. RESULTS: The HEM group had no effects on growth performance and organ weight of weaned pigs. But compared with the control group, both HEM and antibiotics improved intestinal morphology, and HEM elevated the expression of nutrient transporters in ileum (SLC6A9, SLC15A1, and SLC5A1). HEM significantly decreased the activities of maltase in ileum and the ratio of small intestinal weight to BW than control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate benefit effects of the supplementation of HEM in diet, including modulating intestinal morphology and increasing the mRNA expression of nutrients transporters. These findings suggest that HEM provides novel insights into a variety of herbal extract mixtures to replace antibiotics in animal production.

Does the Spleen Have a Function in Digestion? Medical History, Phylogenetic and Embryological Development of the Splenogastric System.

BACKGROUND: Before the spleen was discovered to be a lymphatic blood organ, it had for centuries been considered to be a digestive organ. Concepts of a regulative, secretory and resorptive function in the digestive system were based mainly on a postulated connection between the stomach and the spleen. Splenogastric vascular connections have recently been rediscovered by modern surgery. SUMMARY: To test the hypothesis that the spleen has a digestive function, this article reviews the literature focusing on the interaction between the spleen and the stomach. We examine the historical medical view of the spleen and stomach system and the reasons why a digestive function was abandoned in the 17th and 18th centuries. We then review the rediscovery of the splenogastric system and the present-day state of knowledge (anatomical origin, variability, haemodynamics) and present it in terms of the phylogenetic and embryological development of the spleen and stomach system. Key Message: Splenogastric arteries and gastrosplenic veins form a portal system which directly connects the spleen and stomach parenchyma. Despite its mesodermal anlage, phylogenetically and embryologically the spleen is intimately interconnected with the entodermal stomach parenchyma but detaches from this in the course of development. Further study is required to establish whether the splenogastric system is merely an evolutive remnant or actually a part of a functioning spleen-stomach system as postulated in complementary and integrative medicine.

Eight weeks of static apnea training increases spleen volume but not acute spleen contraction.

Splenic contraction is an important response to acute apnea causing the release of red blood cells into blood circulation. Current literature shows higher spleen volumes and greater spleen contractions in trained apnea divers compared to untrained individuals, but the influence of training is presently unknown. Thirteen subjects daily performed five static apneas for 8 weeks. Before, halfway through and after the apnea training period, subjects performed five maximal breath-holds at the laboratory. Baseline values for and changes in splenic volume and hemoglobin ([Hb]) were assessed. Although baseline spleen volume had increased (from 241 ±â€¯55 mL PRE to 299 ±â€¯51 mL POST training, p = 0.007), the absolute spleen contraction (142 ±â€¯52 mL PRE and 139 ±â€¯34 mL POST training, p = 0.868) and the acute increase in [Hb] remained unchanged. The present study shows that apnea training can increase the size of the spleen but that eight weeks of training is not sufficient to elicit significant training adaptations on the acute response.

Antioxidant enzymes, hematology and histology of spleen in Nile tilapia fed supplemented diet with natural extracts challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with the extrats of propolis and Aloe barbadensis (aloe) on the antioxydant enzime activity, hematology and histology of the spleen of Nile tilapia challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Seventy two juvenile Nile tilapia were divided in four treatments and three replicates and fed extract mixture for 15 days: fish fed supplemented diet with 1% of the mixture of extracts of propolis and aloe (1:1) injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); fish fed suplemented diet with 1% of the mixture of extracts of propolis and aloe (1:1) injected with the A. hydrophila, fish fed supplemented diet with the mixture of propolis extracts and aloe, injected with PBS and injected with A. hydrophila. The influence of the supplementation of propolis and Aloe extracts on the immunomodulation in tilapias was observed by the evaluation of the survival of the animals after challenge with A. hydrophila. Non-supplemented fish had a 44.5% survival rate and those supplemented with 1% of the mixture of extracts showed 55.6% survival 7 days after challenge. The supplemented animals also showed a significant increase in the number of lymphocytes in the evaluation of the blood parameters and, consequently, in the histopathological evaluation, presented greater presence of centers of melanomacrophages. In addition, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase (GR) in the spleen presented a significant difference in fish supplemented with 1% of the extracts mixture, being superior in the animals injected with PBS when compared to those challenged with A. hydrophila.

Paeoniflorin augments systemic Candida albicans infection through inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cell expression in a mouse model.

Paeoniflorin (PF), a Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used in clinical practice in China because of its dual immunoregulatory effects. A previous study found that PF inhibited the biofilm formation of Candida albicans (C. albicans) in vitro; however, whether PF plays an antifungal role in vivo is still unexplored. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of PF alone or in combination with an antifungal agent, fluconazole (FCZ), using a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. The results showed that the survival time of mice treated with PF alone or PF + FCZ decreased compared with the Infected alone and FCZ treated groups, respectively (8.20 ±â€¯1.75 vs 10.40 ±â€¯2.50 days, P < 0.05; 24.60 ±â€¯6.55 vs 29.00 ±â€¯3.16 days, P < 0.05). The fungal burden in the kidney of mice increased in the PF alone and PF + FCZ treated groups compared with the Infected alone or FCZ treated group. Furthermore, it was found that the PF and PF + FCZ treated groups showed significantly decreased levels of serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-22, and an increased level of serum IL-4; PF had no effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). PF alone or in combination with FCZ decreased the proliferation of Th1 (IFN-γ+CD4+) and Th17 cells (IL-17+CD4+) and increased the expression of Th2 cells (IL-4+CD4+). These results suggested that PF treatment could be detrimental to the host response to systemic C. albicans infection in mice. Thus, caution might be required for clinical use of PF in patients with fungal infection.

Effects of dietary level of tannic acid and protein on internal organ weights and biochemical blood parameters of rats.

Tannic acid (TA) is a polyphenolic compound with a health-promoting potential for humans. It is hypothesised that TA effects on the relative weight of internal organs and biochemical blood indices are modified by dietary protein level in rats. The study involved 72 rats divided into 12 groups fed diets with 10 or 18% of crude protein (CP) and supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 or 2% of TA. After 3 weeks of feeding, the relative weight of the caecum was greater in rats fed TA diets, while feeding diets with 10% of CP increased the relative weight of the stomach, small intestine and caecum, but decreased that of kidneys and spleen. Albumin concentration was higher in rats fed 0.25% and 0.5% TA diets than in rats given the 2% TA diets. The 2% TA diets reduced creatine kinase (CK) activity compared to non-supplemented diets and those with 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of TA. Rats fed the 10% CP diets had a higher activity of alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and γ-glutamyltransferase as well as the concentration of iron and cholesterol, but lower that of urea and uric acid. The interaction affected only cholinesterase activity. In conclusion, TA induced caecal hypertrophy and could act as a cardioprotective agent, as demonstrated by reduced CK activity, but these effects were not modified by dietary protein level.

Emotion-Based Cognition in Mice Is Differentially Influenced by Dose and Chemical Form of Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major constituent, and primary omega-3 fatty acid, in the brain. Evidence suggests that DHA consumption may promote cognitive functioning and prevent cognitive decline, and these effects may be particularly relevant in the context of fear or stress. However, the potency and efficacy of dietary DHA may depend on the form of DHA (e.g., phospholipid; PL vs. triglyceride; TG). In this study, we compared in mice the effects of consuming PL and TG forms of DHA on associative, avoidance (fear) based learning and memory. Diets consisted of either no DHA or 1%, 2%, and 4% PL- or TG-DHA. After 4 weeks on the test diets (n = 12/group), we used the 3-day passive avoidance (PA) and elevated plus maze (EPM) to examine fear and fear-associated learning and memory. We found a significant (p < 0.05) diet by time interaction in the PA and EPM. Compared to the control and the 1% TG-DHA group, mice consuming the diet supplemented with 1% PL-DHA displayed a significantly greater latency by test day 2 in the 3-day PA. No differences in latency between any of the groups were observed during trials 1 and 3. Mice consuming the 2% PL-DHA diet spent significantly more time frequenting the open arms during the first minute, but not the last 4 min, of the test. Compared to all other groups, mice fed the 4% TG-DHA diet had increased spleen, liver, and visceral fat weight. Consumption of the lower dose PL-DHA may confer enhanced efficacy, particularly on fear-based learning behavior.

Effects of thermo-resistant non-starch polysaccharide degrading multi-enzyme on growth performance, meat quality, relative weights of body organs and blood profile in broiler chickens.

This research was conducted to study the performance and carcass parameters of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with heat-treated non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme. A total of 432 one-day old Ross 308 broiler chickens were allocated to five treatments: (i) CON (basal diet), (ii) E1: CON + 0.05% multi-enzyme, (iii) E2: CON + 0.1% multi-enzyme, (iv) E3: CON + 0.05% thermo-resistant multi-enzyme and (v) E4: CON + 0.1% thermo-resistant multi-enzyme, each treatment consisted of six replications and 12 chickens in each replication. The chickens were housed in three floor battery cages during 28-day experimental period. On days 1-7, gain in body weight (BWG) improved by feeding the diets supplemented with thermo-resistant multi-enzyme. On days 7-21 and 1-28, chickens fed the diets containing thermo-resistant multi-enzyme showed improved (p < 0.05) BWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to CON group. Supplementing the diets with multi-enzyme or thermo-resistant multi-enzyme affected the percentage of drip loss on d 1 (p < 0.05). Drip loss percentage on days 3 and 5 and also meat colour were not affected significantly. Supplementing the diets with multi-enzyme or thermo-resistant multi-enzyme did not affect the relative weights of organs but compared to CON group, relative weight of breast muscle increased and abdominal fat decreased (p < 0.05). Among measured blood constituents, chickens fed supplemented diets with thermo-resistant multi-enzyme showed higher (p < 0.05) IgG. Counts of red and white blood cells and lymphocyte percentage were not affected. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that supplementing pelleted diets with thermo-resistant multi-enzyme improved performance of broiler chickens.

[Effects of herb cake-separated moxibustion on spleen in immunosuppressive rabbits:a morphology study].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of different methods of moxibustion on spleen morphology in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive rabbits. METHODS: A total of 50 rabbits were randomly assigned into a blank group, a model group, a herbal cake-separated moxibustion group, a moxibustion group and a sham cake-separated moxibustion group, 10 rabbits in each group. Except the blank group, the rabbits in each group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg), once a day, for 7 consecutive days to establish immunosuppressive model. After the model establishment, the rabbits in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group were treated with herbal cake-separated moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV 8), "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Shenshu" (BL 23); the moxa cone was placed on the herbal cake which was made of Liuwei Dihuang decoction, three cones for each acupoint. The rabbits in the moxibustion group were treated with moxa stick moxibustion which contained equal moxa of three moxa cones. The rabbits in the sham cake-separated moxibustion group were treated with cake which was made of flour. The acupoint selection in the above three groups was identical, and the intervention was given once every other day for totally 10 times. The rabbits in the blank group and model group were immobilized for identical time without any intervention. After treatment, the rabbits were sacrificed to collect the spleen. With routine HE staining, the morphology changes of spleen were observed under microscope. In addition, the white pulp, splenic corpuscle and the counts of lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the average size of white pulp and the radius of splenic corpuscle were reduced (both P<0.01), and the lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01), but the counts of splenic nodule were increased without significant difference (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the averagesize of white pulp and the radius of splenic corpuscle were significantly increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and moxibustion group (all P<0.01). The lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries were significantly increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and sham cake-separated moxibustion group (both P<0.01). Compared with the moxibustion group, the count of lymphatic cells of lymphatic sheath around the arteries was increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion (P<0.01). Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group, the radius of splenic corpuscle was significant increased in the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on immunologic function is superior to moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion in cyclophosphamide-induced rabbits.

Effects of ruxolitinib treatment on metabolic and nutritional parameters in patients with myelofibrosis from COMFORT-I.

BACKGROUND: In the COMFORT (COntrolled MyeloFibrosis Study with ORal JAK Inhibitor Therapy)-I study, the Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib provided significant reductions in splenomegaly, improvements in myelofibrosis (MF)-related symptoms, and a survival advantage relative to placebo in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk MF. In this post hoc analysis, we assessed the effects of ruxolitinib treatment on measures of metabolic and nutritional status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive ruxolitinib (n = 155; 15 or 20 mg twice a day for patients with baseline platelet counts of 100-200 × 10(9)/L or > 200 × 10(9)/L, respectively) or placebo (n = 154). The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a ≥ 35% spleen volume reduction from baseline to week 24. A secondary end point was the proportion of patients with ≥ 50% improvement in Total Symptom Score (TSS) from baseline to week 24, measured using the modified Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form version 2.0. Weight, cholesterol, and albumin were measured at specified time points throughout the study. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, ruxolitinib treatment was associated with increased weight (mean change: 3.9 kg vs. -1.9 kg), total cholesterol (mean percentage change: 26.4% vs. -3.3%), and albumin levels (mean percentage change: 5.8% vs. -1.7%) at week 24; sustained improvements were observed with longer-term ruxolitinib therapy. Relative to placebo, increases in mean weight, total cholesterol, and albumin levels were observed with ruxolitinib treatment regardless of the degree of spleen volume and TSS reductions at 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: Treatment with ruxolitinib improved measures of metabolic and nutritional status of patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk MF.

[Effect of sulfated polysaccharides from brown seaweed Laminaria japonica on the morfology of lymfoid organs and functional characteristics of immunocompetent cells].

The effect of sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan from the brown alga Laminaria japonica on morphological characteristics of mouse lymphoid organs, subpopulations of spleen mononuclear leukocytes, cytokine production and cytotoxic activity of splenocytes has been investigated. Fucoidan promoted activation and proliferation of lymphoid hematopoietic cells in primary and secondary immunogenesis bodies, increased expression of markers CD19, NK, NKT, CD25, MHC II, TCR, TLR2 and TLR4, the cytotoxic activity of splenocytes and production of immunoregulatory and proinflammatory cytokines (IL- 2, IL-12, IFN-g, TNF-a, IL-6). This suggests activation of effector mechanisms of innate immunity and adaptive immune responses via the Th-1 type.

Luminescent-morphological features of mouse spleen after acupuncture.

The effectiveness of acupuncture contributing to stimulation of morphological organization and altering the dynamics of histamine in the spleen of mice already in the first days after treatment was validated using the methods of luminescent and light microscopy.

Assessment of toxicological effects of blood microsampling in the vehicle dosed adult rat.

UNLABELLED: Historically, satellite groups are often used for rodent toxicokinetic profiling because of the haematological consequences of blood sampling. If microsampling is shown to be toxicologically benign, its adoption in rat studies would enable comparison of exposure and toxicity in individual animals (as happens in non-rodent studies) as well as obviating need for satellite groups. METHODS: Groups of 10 male (200-300g) and female (150-250g) rats aged 10weeks were vehicle dosed and either left unsampled, conventional blood volume sampled (6×200µL) or microsampled (6×32µL) on Days 1 and 14. At termination on Day 15, clinical pathology plus liver and spleen weights and histopathology were obtained. RESULTS: All clinical pathology parameters were within background range. However, compared to unsampled controls, conventional volume sampled rats showed a statistically significant (p<0.001) decrease in haemaglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell count, an increase in reticulocytes (at least p<0.01), increased AST and GLDH and, in males only, an increase in monocytes and neutrophils. In contrast, microsampled animals showed no changes except for a slight, toxicologically insignificant decrease in haemoglobin concentration (15.0g/dL compared to the unsampled group mean of 14.4g/dL) in females (p<0.05) and a small increase in monocytes (p<0.05) in males. CONCLUSION: Microsampling of adult rats is possible without adverse toxicological consequences.

Effects of lactulose supplementation on performance, blood profiles, excreta microbial shedding of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli, relative organ weight and excreta noxious gas contents in broilers.

This study was to evaluate the effects of lactulose supplementation on performance, blood profiles, excreta microbial shedding of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli, relative organ weight and excreta noxious gas contents in broilers. A total of 720 ROSS 308 broilers with a body weight of 46 ± 0.1 g (1 day of age) were used in a 28-d experiment. Broilers were randomly allotted to 4 experiment diets with 12 replicate pens and 15 birds per pen. Dietary treatments were as follows: NC, negative control (without antibiotic); PC, NC + 0.1% tiamulin; L1, NC + 0.1% lactulose; and L2, NC + 0.2% lactulose. Broilers were fed with phase 1 (1-8 day), phase 2 (9-18 day) and phase 3 (19-28 day) diets in the form of mash. During day 1-8, broilers fed the PC and L2 diets had higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain than those fed the NC diet. During day 19-28, broilers fed the L1 and L2 diets had lower (p < 0.05) feed intake than those fed the NC diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was decreased (p < 0.05) in L1 treatment compared with NC treatment. Overall, the FCR was improved (p < 0.05) in all supplementation treatments compared with NC treatment. The apparently metabolizable nitrogen in L1 treatment was higher (p < 0.05) than that in NC treatment at day 28. The excreta Lactobacillus was increased and E. coli was decreased in PC and L2 treatments compared with NC treatment at day 28 (p < 0.05). The excreta NH3, H2S and acetic acid contents were decreased (p < 0.05) in L1 and L2 treatments compared with NC treatment. The relative weight of abdominal fat of broilers fed the PC diet was lowest (p < 0.05) compared with other treatments. In conclusion, this study indicated that dietary supplementation of 0.1% or 0.2% lactulose could improve growth performance, decrease excreta E. coli and excreta NH3 and H2S contents.

Patient-activated three-dimensional multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography for high-resolution mechanical imaging of the liver and spleen.

PURPOSE: To introduce a novel in-vivo three-dimensional multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (3D-MMRE) method for high-resolution mechanical characterization of the liver and spleen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were examined by abdominal single-shot 3D-MMRE using a novel patient-activated trigger system with respiratory control. 10 contiguous slices with 2.5  mm cubic voxel resolution, 3 wave components, 8 time steps, and 2 averages were acquired at 7 mechanical excitation frequencies from 30 to 60  Hz. The total imaging time was approximately 15  min. For postprocessing, multifrequency dual elasto-visco (MDEV) inversion was used to calculate high-resolution mechanical parameter maps of the abdomen including the liver and spleen. RESULTS: Two parameters maps were generated from each image slice to capture the magnitude and the phase angle of the complex shear modulus. Both parameters depicted the mechanical structures of the abdomen with unprecedented high spatial resolution. Spatially averaged group mean values of the liver and spleen are 1.27 ±â€Š0.17 kPa and 2.01 ±â€Š0.69 kPa, indicating a significantly higher asymptomatic stiffness of the spleen compared to the liver. CONCLUSION: Patient-activated respiratory-gated 3D-MMRE combined with MDEV inversion provides highly resolved mechanical maps of the liver and spleen that are superior to previous elastograms measured by abdominal MRE.

Analysis of the restorative effect of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in the spleen-qi deficiency rat model using (1)H-NMR-based metabonomics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (BT) is a classical formula for the treatment of spleen-qi descending, visceroptosis with hyposplenic qi, uterine prolapse, and rectal prolapse due to chronic diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been identified as an effective drug for the treatment of TCM spleen-qi deficiency in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the restorative effect and the potential mechanisms of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in a rat spleen-qi deficiency model using (1)H-NMR-based metabonomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rat spleen-qi deficiency model was established as follows: oral administration of Radix Rhei extract (equivalent to 10g/kg body weight of the crude drug), loaded swimming, and starvation for 24h. Each of these treatments was administered consecutively every three days. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, and three of the groups received a different oral dose of the aqueous extract of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang during the last seven days of the three-week experimental period. The body weight and motor behavior of the rats were measured and recorded once a week. The endogenous metabolites in the plasma were analyzed using NMR in conjunction with multivariate and statistical techniques. In addition, the liver and spleen were removed and weighed. RESULTS: All of the rats in the spleen-qi deficiency group presented pasty loose stools, inactiveness, grouping, a decrease in swimming endurance, and lackluster, loose, and disorderly behavior in addition to a significant decrease in body weight, spleen weight, and liver weight. In contrast, the abovementioned demonstrations were reversed to a certain extent in the rats treated with Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang compared with the model group (p<0.05, p<0.01). A significant separation was determined between the control and model groups in the PCA score plot, which indicates that the spleen-qi deficiency model was successfully duplicated. The changes in the levels of endogenous metabolites in the plasma included lower levels of valine, leucine, and O-acetyl-glycoprotein and a higher concentration of lactate in the spleen-qi deficiency group compared with the control group. Treatment with Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang at least partially returned the levels of these metabolites to the normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: The restorative effects of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in rats with spleen-qi deficiency were confirmed, and four endogenous metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers of the symptoms of spleen-qi deficiency and most likely play roles in the changes observed in certain metabolic pathways, such as the energy, protein, and glycolytic metabolisms.

Effects of composite antimicrobial peptides in weanling piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol: I. Growth performance, immune function, and antioxidation capacity.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a food contaminant that leads to reduced feed intake and reduced BW gain, as well as organ impairment. On the other hand, antimicrobial peptides have been shown to have positive effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immune function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of composite antimicrobial peptides (CAP) on piglets challenged with DON. After a 7-d adaptation period, 28 individually housed piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) weaned at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 treatments (7 pigs/treatment): negative control, basal diet (NC), basal diet + 0.4% CAP (CAP), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (DON), and basal diet + 4 ppm DON + 0.4% CAP (DON + CAP). On d 15 and 30 after the initiation of treatment, blood samples were collected for the determination of blood profile. Piglets were monitored for 30 d to assess performance and then were slaughtered to obtain organs for the determination of the relative weight of organs. The results showed that dietary supplementation with DON decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI, ADG, and G:F, whereas dietary supplementation with CAP improved ADG and G:F (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the kidney and pancreas was greater and the relative weight of the spleen was lighter in the DON treatment than in the other 3 treatments (P < 0.05). There were no effects (P > 0.05) on other relative weights of viscera, except the relative weight of the gallbladder, but the diamine oxidase activity in the liver decreased in DON-treated piglets (P < 0.05). Piglets in the DON treatment had increased serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase and a dramatic decrease in total protein (P < 0.05), whereas there were no differences (P > 0.05) between the DON + CAP treatment and the other treatments. The DON treatment decreased the numbers of red blood cells and platelets, as well as the serum catalase concentrations, and decreased the serum concentrations of H2O2, maleic dialdehyde, and nitric oxide (P < 0.05). The numbers of platelets and thrombocytocrit, as well as the serum concentrations of catalase, were greater, whereas the maleic dialdehyde concentrations were decreased, in both the CAP and DON + CAP treatments compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with the control treatment, DON decreased peripheral lymphocyte proliferation on d 15, whereas supplementation with CAP increased it on d 15 and 30 (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that CAP could improve feed efficiency, immune function, and antioxidation capacity and alleviate organ damage, and thus, it has a protective effect in piglets challenged with DON.

The effects of Forsythia suspensa extract and berberine on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant activities, and intestinal microbiota in broilers under high stocking density.

A 42-d experiment was conducted with 276 Arbor Acres broilers (1 d of age, weighing 41.1 ± 1.5 g) to determine the effects of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) and berberine (BE) on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant activities, and intestinal microbiota stocked at high stocking density (28 kg of BW/m(2) as the normal density, 46 kg of BW/m(2) as the high density). The feeding program consisted of a starter diet from d 1 to 21 of age and a finisher diet from d 22 to 42. Dietary treatments included (1) negative control group (NC), stocked at high density; (2) positive control group (PC), stocked at normal density; (3) FSE, NC + 100 mg/kg of FSE; (4) BE, NC + 100 mg/kg of BE; and (5) FSE + BE, NC + 100 mg/kg of FSE + 100 mg/kg of BE. Birds had free access to diets and water. Body weight and feed intake were measured at d 21 and 42. Blood, spleen and bursa, and intestinal contents were collected at d 42 for analysis. The results showed that growth performance did not differ among treatments in the starter period; however, in the finisher and overall periods, birds in FSE + BE, FSE, BE, and PC had greater final BW, ADG, and ADFI than the birds in NC (P < 0.05). The birds in FSE + BE, FSE, BE, and PC had greater bursa weight, bursa weight/BW ratio, serum total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase activity than birds in NC (P < 0.05). The FSE + BE, FSE, and BE birds had lower serum malondialdehyde level than NC birds (P < 0.05). The FSE + BE, FSE, BE, and PC birds had lower counts of Escherichia coli but greater Lactobacillus in the cecum than that of NC birds (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with FSE, BE, or both can improve the growth performance possibly by enhancing immunity, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting intestinal colonization by healthy microbiota of broilers under high stocking density.