Determination of the relationships between serum amyloid A, serum calprotectin and fecal calprotectin in healthy and infectious diarrheic calves and their diagnostic significances as inflammatory markers.

In this study, serum amyloid A (SAA), serum calprotectin (SCalp) and fecal calprotectin (FCalp) levels were investigated in neonatal calves with infectious diarrhea. Total of 70 calves were divided into E. coli, C. parvum, C. parvum + viral, viral and control groups. Clinical parameters were recorded on days 0 and 7, post treatment. On these days, blood and stool samples were also taken. SAA, SCalp and FCalp levels were measured with commercial ELISA kits. Mean SAA levels on day 0 were measured as 0.54 (0.16-2.18) ng/ml and 38.40 (8.28-83.96) ng/ml for the diarrhea and healthy group, respectively (P < 0.001). Statistically significant difference was also obtained between the diarrhea [68.02 ng/ml 46.66-101.67] and control [24.05 ng/ml 11.92-56] groups in terms of SCalp levels on day 0 (P < 0.001). Cut-off value of SCalp to distinguish E. coli originated diarrhea from viral diarrhea was found to be 70.969 ng/ml (Sens: 94%). FCalp levels on day 0 were 93.08 (22.17-122.88) ng/ml and 87.01 ± 3.33 ng/ml in the diarrhea and healthy groups, respectively (P = 0.04). Cut-off concentration of FCalp was found to be 91.804 ng/ml (P = 0.0057). In addition, as a result of the logistic regression analysis, FCalp's ability to identify animals with diarrhea was found to be 6.316 times (P = 0.009) higher. The highest levels of SCalp and FCalp measured on day 0 were found among E. coli group. As a result, the importance of FCalp and SCalp in diagnosing the status of infectious diarrhea in calves for the first time in the veterinary literature is emphasized.

Intracerebroventricularly injected nesfatin-1 activates central cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.

Nesfatin-1 is a multifunctional neuropeptide having crucial autonomic roles. It is well known that nesfatin-1 collaborates with other central neuromodulatory systems, such as central corticotropin-releasing hormone, melanocortin, oxytocin, and cholinergic systems to show its autonomic effects. Central arachidonic acid cascade plays an important role to provide the homeostasis by exhibiting similar autonomic effects to nesfatin-1. Based on these similarities, the current study was designed to show the effects of intracerebroventricularly (ICV) injected nesfatin-1 on the hypothalamic arachidonic acid (AA) cascade. Immunochemistry and western blot approaches demonstrated that ICV administration of nesfatin-1 provokes an increase in the hypothalamic cyclooxygenase (COX) -1, -2 and lipoxygenase (LOX) protein expression. Moreover, the microdialysis study demonstrated that centrally injected nesfatin-1 increased the posterior hypothalamic extracellular AA products. In conclusion, these findings report that while nesfatin-1 is generating its autonomic effects, it also might be using central prostaglandins and leukotrienes by activating central COX and LOX pathways.

Contingent role of phoenixin and nesfatin-1 on secretions of the male reproductive hormones.

Phoenixin (PNX) and nesfatin-1 are localised in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Moreover, the most of the PNX-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus also co-express nesfatin-1. These outcomes may suggest that there is an interaction between PNX and nesfatin-1, at least in terms of neuroendocrine-mediated regulations. Hence, the study was planned to find out the effects of centrally delivered PNX and nesfatin-1 on male sex hormones or to show the interactive association of intracerebroventricularly (ICV) injected PNX+nesfatin-1 combination on the release of male hormones. PNX and nesfatin-1, single or together, were delivered ICV to different male Wistar Albino rat groups. Both PNX and nesfatin-1 induced a significant enhancement in plasma FSH, LH and testosterone without inducing any alteration in plasma GnRH in the rats. The central combinatorial treatment of both the neuropeptides produced a more potent rise in male plasma hormone levels than treating with single neuropeptide. In summary, our preliminary data show that centrally delivered PNX and nesfatin-1 can affect plasma male hormone levels. Moreover, that the combinatorial treatment with both the neuropeptides in male rats leading to a more potent effect on the plasma male hormone levels might suggest that both these neuropeptides act synergistically in terms of regulation of male HPGA.

Obestatin and Ghrelin May Have a Complementary Function During Acute and Chronic Period in Mice.

Obestatin is described as an anorexigenic peptide, and has adverse effects of ghrelin. It has no inhibitory effects on acute/chronic food intake, and it has been reported by several researchers. The role of obestatin in metabolism is still not clear. In the present study, the purpose is to determine the effects of chronically administrated obestatin. For this purpose, (1 µmol/kg; i.p.) or ghrelin (1 µmol/kg; i.p.) and food restriction (24h fast:24h fed) on plasma obestatin, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucose levels, and body weight gain were investigated for 14 days in mice. Additionally, mice were treated with acute ip (100 nmol/kg) injections of obestatin or ghrelin to investigate the food consumptions, plasma obestatin and ghrelin levels to determine unknown acute effects of obestatin. Plasma ghrelin levels increased significantly in obestatin administered mice when compared with the control group for chronic treatment. This increase is consistent with immunohistochemical findings which claim that the number of ghrelin and obestatin immunopositive cells in fundus tissue of stomach are considerably high in obestatin treated animals. Plasma obestatin and ghrelin levels has shown an increase endogenously in food restricted mice, but plasma leptin and insulin levels have been found to be lower compared to the control group. Acute administration of obestatin caused a decrease in plasma obestatin level at 60 min after injection and had no effect on the reduction of food intake in each treatment time. These results imply that obestatin may not itself be involved in the metabolism regulation; however, obestatin accompanied by ghrelin may play a role in the long-term regulation of metabolism.