Concentration of Zinc, Copper, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium in the Serum, Tissues, and Urine of Streptozotocin-Induced Mild Diabetic Rat Model.

The present study aimed to investigate, in the streptozotocin-induced mild diabetic rat model, the zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) concentration in serum, liver, and kidney tissues, and urine samples from adult Wistar rats treated neonatally with streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetes was induced by subcutaneous administration of streptozotocin (100 mg/Kg) in female Wistar rats of 2 days old (STZ, n = 10). Control group (CG, n = 10) received only sodium-citrate buffer. The mineral concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The validity and accuracy were checked by conventional methods. STZ neonatal injection successfully leaded to mild diabetes in the adult rats. Serum concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca, and Mg showed no changes (p > 0.05) due to diabetes. The Zn, Fe, Ca, and Mg concentrations in liver and kidney tissues were not different (p > 0.05) between STZ and CG. The mean values of Cu were higher (p < 0.05) in liver and kidney samples from STZ as compared to CG. Urine minerals concentrations (Zn, Cu, Fe and Ca) in STZ-rats group were lower (p < 0.05) than CG. However, the content of all evaluated minerals in the excreted urine were higher (p < 0.01) in STZ-rats during a 24 h collection period. Urinary excretion of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca, and Mg was strongly correlated with urinary volume during the 24 h period (r > 0.7; p < 0.001). Observed changes in mineral metabolism of STZ-induced mild diabetes model could be due to the endocrine imbalance associated with the diabetic condition.

Serum zinc levels of cord blood: relation to birth weight and gestational period.

BACKGROUND: Zn-deficiency has been associated with numerous alterations during pregnancy including low birth weight; however, the research relating neonatal zinc status and birth weight has not produced reliable results. OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum Zn-levels of cord blood in healthy newborns and low birth weight newborns, and to assess a possible relationship between zinc concentration and neonatal birth weight and gestational age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 123 newborns divided in "study group" (n=50) with <2500g birth weight neonates and "control group" (n=73) with ≥2500g birth weight neonates were enrolled. Study group was subdivided according to gestational age in preterm (<37 weeks) and full-term (≥37 weeks). Serum cord blood samples were collected and the Zn-levels were analyzed using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry method and the result was expressed in µmol/L. The Zn-levels were compared between the groups (Mann-Whitney-U test) and the Zn-levels were correlated with the birth weight and gestational age (Spearman's rank correlations). RESULTS: Statistically significant low positive correlation between Zn-levels and birth weight (ρ=0.283; p=0.005) was found. No statistically significant difference between Zn-levels of study and control groups [17.00±0.43 vs. 18.16±0.32 (p=0.053)] was found. Statistically significant low positive correlation between Zn-levels and gestational age (ρ=0.351; p=0.001) was found. No statistically significant difference between Zn-levels of preterm as compare to full-term newborns [16.33±0.42 vs. 18.43±0.93 (p=0.079)] was found. Zn-level of preterm subgroup was significantly lower compared to control group (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite low birth weight preterm neonates had significantly lower serum zinc levels of cord blood than healthy term neonates, the correlation between cord blood zinc levels and birth weight and gestational age was lower. The results are not enough to relate the change in cord blood zinc concentration to the birth weight values or gestational period. In relation to complicated pregnancies, further studies regarding zinc levels in blood in our population are required.

Estimulación de cardenólidos en brotes de Digitalis purpurea L. cultivados in vitro mediante elicitores / Stimulation of cardenolides production in Digitalis purpurea L. shoot cultures by elicitors addition

Digitalis purpurea L. es una de las principales fuentes de cardenólidos tales como digoxina y digitoxina. Estos fármacos son ampliamente usados en la disfunción cardíaca y para regular las arritmias del corazón. El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de estudiar el efecto de tres elicitores en el cultivo de brotes de Digitalis purpurea var. Roter Berggold para incrementar la producción in vitro de cardenólidos. La elicitación es una estrategia para incrementar la producción de biomasa y metabolitos secundarios en el cultivo in vitro. Los elicitores evaluados fueron ChitoPlant (0,001; 0,01; 0,1 g.L-1); SilioPlant (0,01; 0,1; 1,0 g.L-1) y Jasmonato de metilo (60, 80 y 100 µM), descritos por primera vez para el incremento de cardenólidos. Se demostró que la elicitación es una estrategia viable para el incremento de cardenólidos en brotes de D. purpurea. El ChitoPlant®, redujo la altura sin afectación en el resto de las variables morfológicas evaluadas. Además indujo un incremento significativo en el contenido de cardenólidos. El SilioPlant® (0,01 g.L-1) no provocó afectaciones en la biomasa e incrementó significativamente la síntesis de cardenólidos en los brotes en 3,6 y 6,9 veces el contenido de digoxina y digitoxina respectivamente. La elicitación con el jasmonato de metilo provocó una reducción de la biomasa. Los contenidos de digoxina y digitoxina se incrementaron ligera y significativamente con 80 y 100 µM de jasmonato de metilo respectivamente. El mejor resultado integral se obtuvo con 0,01 g.L-1 de SilioPlant, el cual indujo la mayor producción neta de cardenólidos por frasco de cultivo (4,72 µg digoxina y 88,27 µg digitoxina).

Digitalis purpurea L. is one of the main sources of cardenolides such as digitoxin and digoxin. These drugs are widely used to strengthen cardiac diffusion and to regulate heart rhythm. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three elicitors on shoots of Digitalis purpurea var. Roter Berggold in semisolid media in order to increase cardenolides biosynthesis. Elicitation is a strategy to increase biomass and secondary metabolites production on in vitro cultures. The elicitors evaluated were ChitoPlant (0,001; 0,01; 0,1 g.L-1); SilioPlant (0,01; 0,1; 1,0 g.L-1) and Methyl jasmonate (60, 80, 100 µM), which are reported here to induce cardenolide production for first time. Elicitation resulted an effective strategy to increase cardenolide production on D. purpurea shoot cultures. ChitoPlant induced a decrease in shoots length, but had no effect on the rest of morphological parameters evaluated. As well, ChitoPlant increased cardenolide content. SilioPlant (0,01 g.L-1) did not affect biomass production and at the same time, increased in 3,6-fold and 6,9-fold digoxin and digitoxin content respectively. Elicitation with Methyl jasmonate resulted in decreased biomass production. Digoxin and digitoxin content was slight and significantly increased by Methyl jasmonate 80 and 100 µM respectively. The best integral result was reached with 0,01 g.L-1 of SilioPlant, which induced the highest net yields per culture flask (4,72 µg of digoxin and 88,27 µg of digitoxin).

Efecto del cobre sobre la reproducción en novillas lecheras de Cuba / Effect of copper on the reproduction of dairy heifers of Cuba

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto del cobre sobre el comportamiento reproductivo de novillas lecheras.Materiales y métodos. El trabajo se realizó en fincas de la provincia de Villa Clara, en dos etapas y con 210 novillas. En la primera se estudiaron 120 novillas divididas en dos grupos de 60 animales cada uno. El grupo A, control y el B, tratado con 2 ml de CuSO4 (2.5 por ciento) subcutáneamente. En la segunda etapa se estudiaron 90 novillas divididas en tres grupos de 30 animales cada uno, el grupo A, control; el B, fue tratado con 2 ml de CuSO4 (2.5 por ciento) subcutáneamente y el grupo C, se trató con acupuntura utilizando 0.1 ml de dicho producto subcutáneamente en el punto Pahuai; enambas etapas los animales del grupo A, no recibieron ningún tratamiento y a los animales tratados, grupos B y C se les repitió el tratamiento cada 60 días en dos aplicaciones más. Los análisis hemoquímicos se efectuaron en los laboratorios de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Central de Las Villas. Resultados. Los animales aumentaron significativamente los niveles del cobre en suero sanguíneo (p<0.05), así como los porcentajes de presentación de celo y de gestaciones con el consiguiente beneficio económico. Conclusión. La aplicación de la cuproterapia tanto alopática como acupunturalmente incrementó la cupremia y la fertilidad de las hembras bovinas tratadas

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of copper on the reproductive behavior of dairy heifers. Materials and methods. The work was conducted in farms of Villa Clara province, in two stages and with 210 heifers. In the first one 120 heifers were divided in two groups of 60 animals each one. Group A, control and the group B was treated with 2 ml of CuSO4 (2.5%) subcutaneously. In the second one 90 heifers were studied divided in three groups of 30 animals each one, group A, control; group B was treated subcutaneously with 2 ml of CuSO4 (2.5%) and the group C, was treated with acupuncture using 0.1 ml of this product subcutaneously in the PaHuai point; in both stages the animals included in the group A were not treated and the animals included in group B and C received a repeated treatment every 60 days in two applications more. Results. The animals significantly increased the levels of copper in blood serum (p<0.05), as well as percentages of zeal and gestations presentation with the resulting economic benefit. Conclusion. The application of cuppertheraphy as much allopathical as the acupunctural increase cupperhemic and fertility of the treated bovine females.