Protective effect of Spirulina platensis against cell damage and apoptosis in hepatic tissue caused by high fat diet.

Spirulina platensis is a microalga that may be a source of antioxidants that can reduce body fat deposition. Consumption of a high fat diet produces elevated blood lipid levels, inflammation and apoptosis. We investigated the possible effects of S. platensis on the blood lipid profile, and liver inflammation and apoptosis in rats fed a high fat diet. Sixty-four young male rats were divided into eight equal groups. The control group was fed a basic diet. The experimental groups were fed a diet for 60 days that was prepared by mixing variable amounts of 43% vegetable oil and 10% cholesterol with or without 3% S. platensis mixed with the basal diet. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected from each animal. Serum samples were used to analyze lipid parameters, total antioxidant status and total oxidant status. iNOS and eNOS were determined by immunohistochemistry. TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis to investigate a possible connection between inflammation and apoptosis in the liver tissue. The relations between fat deposition and liver degeneration were assessed by Sirius red staining and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunostaining. S. platensis reduced serum HDL-C, LDL-C and triglyceride, increased HDL-C levels in rats fed a high fat diet to near control levels, and reduced iNOS levels and increased eNOS levels in the liver tissue compared to vegetable oil and cholesterol treated groups. The apoptotic index was reduced in the groups that were fed a high fat or a basic diet when supplemented with S. platensis.

Investigation of excretion and absorption of different zinc salts in puppies.

The effects of dietary zinc on zinc absorption and excretion were evaluated with six 12-week-old beagles. The dogs were fed a commercial dry food later supplemented with 2 and 4mg/kg of body weight per day of either zinc sulphate, zinc acetate or zinc oxide. The concentrations of zinc in the urine and faeces of all treatment groups were increased depending on the type of zinc salts and the dosage in the diet (P < 0.05). The apparent absorption of zinc salts ranged from 0.20 to 0.36. The zinc salt supplements at both dosages did not affect the digestibility of crude protein, fat and fibre. The zinc concentration in plasma varied with the type of zinc salt and with the dosage. The mean concentrations ranged from 61+/- 1.46 microg to 73 +/- 1.57 microg/dl in the unsupplemented groups, whereas it was 115 +/- 2.33 microg/dl in the group supplemented with zinc acetate at the highest dosage.

The humoral immune response and the productivity of laying hens kept on the ground or in cages.

The effects of two different keeping systems on the humoral immune response and productivity were compared for 80 laying hens, divided into four groups. Two groups each of 20 hens were kept on the ground and two were kept in cages. All the birds were immunised subcutaneously with human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) at a dose of 100(microg per injection. The immunisations were performed twice at 4-week intervals. The lipopeptide Pam(3)Cys-Ser-(Lys)(4) was used as an adjuvant at a dose of 0.25mg per injection in one group from each housing system. In the second group from each housing system, the hens were immunised without any adjuvant (antigen control groups). The mean egg yield was significantly higher in both the antigen control group and the adjuvant group, when laying hens were kept in cages. Total egg weight remained constant in both of the housing systems. Keeping hens in cages resulted in higher mean specific antibody titres and mean immunoglobulin Y concentrations in the egg yolk.