Variations in the transfer of radiocesium (137Cs) and radiostrontium (90Sr) from milk to cheese.

This study aimed to compare the transfer of 2 manmade radionuclides, radiocesium (137Cs) and radiostrontium (90Sr), from cow milk to whey and cheese in 3 different types of French cheese production with rennet coagulation. Most of the 137Cs was present in the aqueous phase and became concentrated in the whey. For 137Cs transfer to whey, the processing factor (Pf; i.e., the ratio of the activity concentrations) ranged between 0.86 and 1.30 (n = 12). The food processing retention factor (Fr), calculated using the processing efficiency, ranged between 0.85 and 1.19 (n = 9). No statistical difference of Pf and Fr to whey is identified for 137Cs and the cheese products. The Pf calculated for 90Sr transfer to cheese ranged between 3.95 and 12.16, with significant differences depending on the type of cheese. In addition, a linear correlation is observed between 90Sr Pf to cheese and the Ca level in the cheese (r2 = 0.57). Thus, the Pf is enhanced in hard cheeses that are enriched in calcium. This is confirmed by nearly constant Fr values, ranging between 0.66 and 0.83.

In situ mitochondrial function in volume overload- and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Little comparative information is available on mitochondrial function changes during experimentally-induced hypertrophy. Respiratory control mechanisms are not exactly the same in situ and in isolated mitochondria. This study assessed in situ mitochondrial function in two myocardial hypertrophy models. METHODS: Cytochrome aa3 (Cytaa3) and myoglobin (Mb) absorption changes were monitored in isolated rat hearts using dual wavelength spectrophotometry (Cytaa3: 605-630 nm, Mb: 581-592 nm). Hypertrophy was induced by creation of an aortic stenosis or of an aorto-caval fistula. Optical monitoring was performed on diastole-arrested perfused hearts using the sequence O2 perfusion, N2 perfusion during 4 min, and reoxygenation. The plateaus of the Cytaa3 and Mb curves were used to quantify oxidation-reduction and oxygenation levels. Respiratory kinetics were characterized by the slopes of transition phase curves. RESULTS: Myoglobin oxygenation was comparable in the hypertrophied and control hearts. However, Cytaa3 oxidation-reduction levels in the hypertrophied hearts showed a shift towards greater reduction in comparison with the controls (controls: 0.580 +/- 0.008 DO605/DO630 nm, n = 34; fistula: 0.530 +/- 0.023, n = 23; stenosis: 0.522 +/- 0.016, n = 20, p < 0.001). The rate of Cytaa3 reduction and the rate of myoglobin deoxygenation were significantly accelerated (p < 0.005) in the volume overload group (0.507 +/- 0.043, n = 23), whereas the respiratory rate in the pressure overload group (0.389 +/- 0.034, n = 20) was comparable to that in the control hearts (0.358 +/- 0.026 delta DO 605 nm/DO630 nm.min-1, n = 34). CONCLUSION: We found mitochondrial function alterations in both volume overload- and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, despite adequate cytosol oxygenation. The patterns of these alterations differed: the redox state showed a shift of similar magnitude toward greater reduction in both models, but the respiratory rate was increased in the volume-overloaded hearts and unchanged in the pressure-overloaded hearts. The modification in the oxidation-reduction state suggested that overload hypertrophy may induce changes in the metabolism of the myocardium, which may, in turn, load to persistent modifications in mitochondrial function. The differences between the two models suggest that adaptation to hypertrophy-inducing events exists at the level of the mitochondrion.

Scanning spectrophotometry for the dynamic study of tissue respiration in intact organs.

For use with intact perfused organs a spectrophotometer system has been developed, both for dual-wavelength absorption measurements and for spectral scanning. A monochromator is used for illumination and scanning in the visible and near infrared. Optic fibres conduct light to the specimen under examination and from the specimen to a detecting photomultiplier. System control is exercised by a microcomputer, which also processes the collected data. The performance of the system on isolated perfused rat heart is demonstrated, in the spectral scanning mode and in the dual-wavelength mode, by studying simultaneously the kinetics of cytochrome aa3, and myoglobin oxidation-reduction.