Diet supplementation with a specific melon concentrate improves oviduct antioxidant defenses and egg characteristics in laying hens.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of a specific melon concentrate on oviduct antioxidant defenses and egg characteristics of laying hens.Lohmann Brown hens were assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 16 in each). One group was supplemented with the melon concentrate (26 mg/kg of feed) during 6 wk. The other group was composed of untreated hens, which served as control. Eggs were collected, weighed (yolk, albumen, shell), and analyzed (Haugh unit and albumen pH relevant for egg freshness) at the end of the supplementation period. Antioxidant status was evaluated in the oviduct measuring antioxidant enzymes by western blotting.This study demonstrated that the melon concentrate could ameliorate egg weight, and particularly yolk contribution to egg weight and egg shell weight. An increase in endogenous antioxidant defenses in the oviduct after this melon concentrate supplementation could explain the better egg characteristics. The improvement of egg quality, due to melon concentrate, may have important economic implications for future breeding programs, particularly if these effects generalize from hens to other poultry species, or even other livestock animal species.

Dietary exposure to silver nanoparticles in Sprague-Dawley rats: effects on oxidative stress and inflammation.

Due to undesirable hazardous interactions with biological systems, we evaluated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) intake on oxidative stress and inflammation. Rats received for 81 days a standard diet (Controls) or a standard diet plus 500 mg/d/kg BW AgNPs. We assayed plasma lipids, and oxidative stress was assessed by measuring liver and heart superoxide anion production (O2°â») and liver malondialdehyde levels (MDA). Antioxidant status was appraised using plasma paraoxonase activity (PON), plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) and liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD). Liver inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6 levels and plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were assayed. Compared with Controls, AgNPs raised cholesterolemia (9.5%), LDL-cholesterol (30%), and lowered triglycerides (41%). They also increased liver (30%) and cardiac (41%) O2°â» production, reduced PON activity (15%) and raised liver TNFα (9%) and IL-6 (∼12%). Plasma ALT activity rose (12%) after treatment with AgNPs. However, PAC and liver MDA and SOD activity were unchanged. These features indicate that exposure to 500 mg/d/kg BW of AgNPs results in liver damage by a dysregulation of lipid metabolism, highlighting liver and heart as the most sensitive organs to the deleterious effects. Our findings also demonstrate for the first time the oxidative and inflammatory effects of dietary AgNPs.

An SOD rich melon extract Extramel prevents aortic lipids and liver steatosis in diet-induced model of atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxidative stress has been involved in the early steps of atherosclerosis and previous studies on hypercholesterolemic hamsters have shown that non-enzymatic antioxidant could prevent fatty streak formation. Therefore, we investigated whether a melon juice extract (Extramel((R))) rich in superoxide dismutase (SOD) would prevent the development of early atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of Extramel((R)) on plasma cholesterol, aortic fatty streak formation, hepatic steatosis, superoxide anion tissue production and NAD(P)H oxidase expression were studied in hamsters fed with an atherogenic diet (HF), receiving by gavage either water or Extramel((R)) at 0.7, 2.8 or 5.6mg/d. After 12 weeks of oral administration, Extramel((R)) lowered plasma cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol and induced blood and liver SOD activities. It also strongly reduced the area of aortic fatty streak by 49-85%, cardiac (45%) and liver (67%) production of superoxide anion and liver p22(phox) subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase expression by 66%, and attenuated the development of hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSION: These findings support the view that chronic consumption of melon juice extract rich in SOD has potential beneficial effects with respect to the development of atherosclerosis and liver steatosis, emphasizing its use as potential dietary therapy.

Selenium from selenium-rich Spirulina is less bioavailable than selenium from sodium selenite and selenomethionine in selenium-deficient rats.

The bioavailabilty of selenium (Se) from selenium-rich Spirulina (SeSp) was assessed in Se-deficient rats by measuring tissue Se accumulation and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. For 42 d, rats were subjected to dietary Se depletion by consumption of a Torula yeast (TY)-based diet with no Se; controls were fed the same diet supplemented with 75 microg Se/kg diet as sodium selenite. Se-deficient rats were then repleted with Se (75 microg/kg) by the addition of sodium selenite, selenomethionine (SeMet) or SeSp to the TY basal diet. Selenium speciation in SeSp emphasized the quasi-absence of selenite (2% of total Se); organic Se comprised SeMet (approximately 18%), with the majority present in the form of two selenoproteins (20-30 kDa and 80 kDa). Gross absorption of Se from SeSp was significantly lower than from free SeMet and sodium selenite. SeMet was less effective than sodium selenite in restoring Se concentration in the liver but not in kidney. SeSp was always much less effective. Similarly, Se from SeSp was less effective than the other forms of Se in restoring GSH-Px activity, except in plasma and red blood cells where no differences were noted among the three sources. This was confirmed by measuring the bioavailability of Se by slope-ratio analysis using selenite as the reference form of Se. Although Se from SeSp did not replenish Se concentration and GSH-Px activity in most tissues to the same degree as the other forms of Se, we conclude that it is biologically useful and differently metabolized due to its chemical form.

Iron availability from iron-fortified spirulina by an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture model.

Iron deficiency, one of the most important nutritional problems in the world, can be caused not only by foods deficient in iron but also by poor availability of dietary iron. Iron food fortification in combination with highly available iron from supplements could effectively reduce this deficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the iron availability from iron-fortified spirulina. We have used an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture system to measure iron spirulina availability and made a comparison with those of beef, yeast, wheat floor, and iron sulfate plus ascorbic acid as a reference. Iron availability was assessed by ferritin formation in Caco-2 cells exposed to digests containing the same amount of iron. Our results demonstrate a 27% higher ferritin formation from beef and spirulina digests than from digests of yeast and wheat flour. When iron availability was expressed per microgram of iron used in each digest, a 6.5-fold increase appeared using spirulina digest in comparison with meat. In view of this observed high iron availability from spirulina, we conclude that spirulina could represent an adequate source of iron.

Dietary grape seed tannins affect lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipases and tissue lipids in rats fed hypercholesterolemic diets.

The effects of monomeric and polymeric grape seed tannins on rat plasma lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase and aortic and hepatic lipid concentration were studied. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either a normal diet (with no added cholesterol and no tannins), a control diet (hypercholesterolemic diet) or hypercholesterolemic diets supplemented with 2% tannin monomers or 2% polymers 3 or 9 wk. Plasma total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, LDL cholesterol and VLDL concentrations were significantly higher and the HDL cholesterol concentration lower in controls and in rats fed the diet supplemented with monomers compared with rats fed polymeric tannins at both time points. Lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities were significantly higher in control and in monomer-fed groups than in the polymer-fed group. Hepatic and aortic cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly higher in control rats and those fed monomers than in the polymer-fed group. Moreover, plasma HDL cholesterol and hepatic lipase activity were closely associated with low aortic cholesterol and triacylglycerol in rats fed polymeric tannins. These rats also exhibited greater fecal excretion of cholesterol and especially bile acids than the control or monomer-fed groups. Thus dietary grape seed tannins have a pronounced anti-hypercholesterolemic effect by enhancing reverse cholesterol transport and also by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption and increasing bile acid excretion.

Dietary grape seed tannins: effects of nutritional balance and on some enzymic activities along the crypt-villus axis of rat small intestine.

The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional and intestinal effects of grape seed tannins. For this purpose, tannins were incorporated in diets of rats at levels of 0.2 or 2.0% for 31 days in comparison to a control diet. The animals were pair-fed. Nutritional balances were not affected by feeding 0.2% tannins. At the highest dose (2%) grape seed tannins reduced growth as well as dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) digestibility. In rats fed protein-free diets, 2% tannins significantly increased endogenous fecal N. Starch and fat were well digested in all groups of rats. No changes in organ weights were observed. Duodenal alkaline phosphatase activity (AP) was never affected by tannins. On the other hand, in the jejunum, along the vilus-crypt unit, a reduction of AP and sucrase appeared at the tip villus which was balanced by an enhancement of 3H-thymidine incorporation in the middle of the crypt zone, giving evidence of endogenous N loss. This study did not reveal a major toxic effect of tannins except a reduced DM and N digestibility; nevertheless tannins directly interfere with mucosal proteins, thereby stimulating the cell renewal.

Effect of grape seed tannins on the activity of some rat intestinal enzyme activities.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of grape seed tannins on rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase (AP), sucrase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activities. An experiment was performed in vivo by dietary supplementation with 2% tannins; this diet was tested on an experimental group of rats; a control group received a diet without tannins. After 31 days, tannins intake significantly decreased middle-jejunal AP from 123 to 45 mU/mg protein and sucrase activities from 310 to 195 mU/mg protein, while no significant difference appeared at the duodenal stage (p < 0.05). Ileal DPP IV activity was also significantly reduced (p < 0.05) from 190 to 110 mU/mg protein after tannin intake. Using in vitro experiments on purified brush border membranes, AP activity was found to be inhibited by grape tannins; this inhibition was prevented by the detergent Triton X-100. The addition of pancreatic-biliary (PB) juice to the incubation medium prevented or reversed the tannin-inhibited enzyme activity. The present data indicate that in the duodenal lumen, alkalinity and detergency from the PB secretion neutralized the ability of tannins to inactivate brush border hydrolase activities and suggest that enzyme inhibition took place once bile salts were reabsorbed while moving down the gut. This was confirmed by in vitro experiments where sucrase and DPP IV activities inhibited by grape seed tannins were largely recovered after the addition of PB juice to the incubation medium.

Comparative evaluation of the effects of two different forms of dietary fibre (rice bran vs. wheat bran) on rat colonic mucosa and faecal microflora.

The aim of the study was to compare the physiological consequences of two dietary fibre sources on the faecal microflora and colonic mucosal growth in rats. The studied sources, a moderately well-soluble fibre (rice bran, RB) and a less well-soluble fibre (wheat bran, WB), were included in diets of rats at a level of 10% for 3 weeks and compared with a totally fibre-deprived diet. RB significantly increased faecal water compared to the control diet (p < 0.05). Faecal nitrogen content and bacterial mass, as estimated from the 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) output, were greatly and significantly increased by RB, and to a lesser extent by WB, compared to the control diet. Total bile acid excretion was significantly higher by rats fed RB than by those fed WB. Faecal bacterial enzyme activities tested (beta-glucuronidase, mucinase and nitroreductase) were significantly reduced by the two different fibre sources, but RB was more effective than WB, except for nitroreductase activity which was reduced at the same level for each fibre source. Although measurements of mucosal colonic weight and RNA content were significantly different between groups fed RB and WB (p < 0.05), DNA content and the ratio RNA/DNA did not significantly differ between these groups. Our results indicate that the differential changes observed in beta-glucuronidase and mucinase activities and DAPA and bile acid excretion may depend on the nature of the fibre consumed. They also suggest that RB, which had similar effects, sometimes more marked than WB, on the studied parameters, may be a new valuable fibre source.

Mathematical correlation between villus height and the nutritional state in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Three different experiments were carried out on growing male Sprague-Dawley rats. In the first experiment, dietary nitrogen was given in casein at four different protein values ranging from 5 to 16%. Rats were fed ad libitum for 21 days. In the second experiment, which lasted 17 days, animals were given three diets that differed in the molecular form of the nitrogen supply - that is, proteins or peptides. The protein value (N x 6.25) was 10% in each diet. In the third experiment, malnourished rats were refed diets with a protein value of 15% (N x 6.25) for eight days. The dietary nitrogen was either in the form of protein, peptide, or amino acid. Body weight was recorded daily. At the end of each experiment the intestinal villus height was measured by light microscopy. Data were statistically analysed by Exner's coefficient. The results assessed the validity of the correlation between villus height and gain in body weight.

Nutritional value and intestinal effects of dipeptides and tripeptides. Comparison with their issuing bovine plasma protein in rats.

A hydrolysate containing 75% di- and tripeptides (DTP) was prepared from bovine plasma proteins (BP) and the original protein and hydrolysate were compared for nutritional value. Food intake, protein efficiency ratio (PER), nitrogen balance and digestibility and plasma amino acid concentrations were measured in young rats receiving the diets over 17 days. Moreover, intestinal adaptation was evaluated in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, with the aid of light microscopy and enzyme analyses; tritiated thymidine incorporation was also measured. In DTP- and BP-fed rats, food intake, body weight gain, nitrogen balance and digestibility as well as PER were similar. Plasma amino acid concentration analyses showed an increased concentration of threonine and valine in the BP-fed group. Measurements of mucosal enzyme activities suggest adaptation to the diets especially in the ileum as indicated by increasing aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl peptidase IV specific activities in the BP-fed group. This group also displayed substantial 3H-thymidine incorporation. It is concluded that the hydrolysate containing di- and tripeptides is efficiently utilized in healthy growing rats, though the efficacy is not higher than with the BP diet except for the difference in 3H-thymidine incorporation.

Selective effects of PHA on rat brush border hydrolases along the crypt-villus axis.

The mechanism of the toxicity of lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds has been investigated on rat enterocytes. Cell isolation procedures showed a selectivity in the loss of brush border hydrolases; this indicated that the microvilli blebbing was not the only mechanism of action of lectins on rat enterocytes.

Duodenal toxicity of dietary Phaseolus vulgaris lectins in the rat: an integrative assay.

It is now generally admitted that phytohemagglutinin (PHA) constitutes the main factor responsible for the dietary toxicity of raw kidney beans. In the growing rat, an impairment of growth is the unique expression of a malnutrition syndrome. The aim of this work was to precise to what extent the intestinal injuries may account for this malnutrition. PHA was administered for 9 days to growing rats at levels ranging from 0.0025 to 0.25% of food dry matter. One group of controls was fed ad libitum and other groups were restrained. In such conditions, PHA reduced the food intake when offered at a level higher than 0.04% as a linear function of the logarithm of lectin rate. Intestinal injuries were also dose-dependent: blebbing of microvilli and loss of alkaline phosphatase occurred at the smallest dose of PHA, cell loss occurred at higher doses. A compensatory hyperplasia was observed as a consequence of both intestinal injury and reduced food intake. Our main results are that, whatever may be the damages caused to the duodenal mucosa, the observed growth impairment was quasi-totally imputable to the reduction of food intake.

Effect of lectins from leguminous seeds on rat duodenal enterokinase activity.

Enterokinase activity from rat duodenal brush borders was assayed in vitro in the presence of purified lectins from 3 leguminous seeds. Noncompetitive inhibition of the enzyme was observed in each case. Phaseolus hemagglutinin was the most potent inhibitor among the 3 lectins tested.

Mycobacteria arabinolipids as potential endotoxins: their activity on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Two natural arabinolipids from the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (5-mycoloyl-D-arabinose and 5-mycoloyldiarabinoside) and two synthetic arabinolipids (5-mycoloyl-L-arabinose and 5-mycoloyl(2'-hydroxyethyl)L-arabinoside) were tested on rat liver mitochondria. 5-Mycoloyl D- and L-rabinose had the same low activity, while 5-mycoloyldiarabinoside efficiently lowered the ADP/O ratio, inhibited active respiration and increased controlled respiration. The synthetic 5-mycoloyl(2'-hydroxyethyl)arabinoside had an intermediate efficiency. Due to their activity on mitochondria, the arabinolipids of the mycobacterial cell wall can be considered as potential endotoxins.

[Effects of a phytohemagglutinin extract on growth, nitrogen digestibility and the activity of invertase and (Na+-K+)-ATPase in the intestinal mucosa of the rat]. / Effets d'un extrait de phytohémagglutinines sur la croissance, la digestibilité de l'azote et l'activité de l'invertase et de la (Na+-K+)-ATPase de la muqueuse intestinale, chez le rat.

A phytohemagglutinin extract is prepared from raw kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and incorporated at a level of 1% (dry matter) in the diet of young growing rats. Beside a decrease of feed intakes, the main effects of the experimental diet are the following : growth depression, decrease of dry matter and protein digestibility and hypoglycemia. Biological value, organs weight (liver, kidneys, spleen) did not change significantly. The hemagglutinin extract induces an inhibition of saccharase activity whereas (Na+-K+)-ATPase remains unchanged. Growth depressing effect may be due to an alteration of hydrolysis and absorption mechanisms at the level of brush border of enterocytes.