Trimethylation profile of histones H3 lysine 4 and 9 in late preantral and early antral caprine follicles grown in vivo versus in vitro in the presence of anethole.

This study assessed the histones methylation profile (H3K4me3 and H3K9me3) in late preantral (PA) and early antral (EA) caprine follicles grown in vivo and in vitro, and the anethole effect during in vitro culture of PA follicles. Uncultured in vivo-grown follicles (PA, n = 64; EA, n = 73) were used as controls to assess the methylation profile and genes' expression related to apoptosis cascade (BAX, proapoptotic; BCL2, antiapoptotic), steroidogenesis (CYP17, CYP19A1), and demethylation (KDM1AX1, KDM1AX2, KDM3A). The isolated PA follicles (n = 174) were cultured in vitro for 6 days in α-MEM+ in either absence (control) or presence of anethole. After culture, EA follicles were evaluated for methylation, mRNA abundance, and morphometry. Follicle diameter increased after culture, regardless of treatment. The methylation profile and the mRNA abundance were similar between in vivo-grown PA and EA follicles. Anethole treatment led to higher H3K4me3 fluorescence intensity in EA follicles. The mRNA abundances of BAX, CYP17, and CYP19A1 were higher, and BCL2 and KDM3A were lower in in vitro-grown EA follicles than in vivo-grown follicles. In conclusion, in vitro follicle culture affected H3K4me3 fluorescence intensity, mRNA abundance of apoptotic genes, and steroidogenic and demethylase enzymes compared with in vivo-grown follicles.

Chemical profiling of secondary metabolites from Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel latex with inhibitory action against the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase: In vitro and in silico assays.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Himatanthus drasticus is an important medicinal plant whose latex is traditionally used in Northeast Brazil to treat various diseases, including diabetes. The use of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors can be an effective strategy to modulate levels of postprandial hyperglycemia via control of starch metabolism. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to verify if H. drasticus latex has inhibitory activity against enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes, besides chemically characterizing the metabolites responsible for such activities. In addition, in silico analysis was performed to support the traditional claim of possible antidiabetic activity of this latex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Latex from H. drasticus stems was sequentially partitioned with n-hexane (FHDH), CHCl3 (FHDC) and EtOH (FHDHA). Wash extraction of the FHDHA fraction was performed to obtain the other extract fractions. The FHDHA was submitted to chromatography in a SPE C18 cartridge using gradient elution with MeOH/H2O to produce five fractions: FHDHA1, FHDHA2, FHDHA3, FHDHA4 and FHDHA5. The FHDHA1 was subjected to semi-preparative reverse phase HPLC. Lineweaver-Burk plots were used to investigate the kinetic parameters of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The interactions between plumieride and porcine pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase were analyzed through an in silico molecular docking study. RESULTS: Phytochemical identification of compounds present in the FHDHA fraction of H. drasticus latex was possible by 1H, 13C NMR analysis and mass spectrometry, and the results were compared with the literature. The identified compounds were α-ethyl glucoside, protocatechuic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 15-demethylplumieride acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, plumieride, and catechin. The inhibition results of the fractions tested against α-amylase and α-glucosidase showed inhibitory activities dependent on the increase of fractions and compound concentrations. The IC50 results obtained from FHDHA, FHDHA1 and plumieride fractions against α-amylase were 36.46, 72.61, 33.87 µg/mL respectively. The IC50 of plumieride was the closest to that of acarbose (22.52 µg/mL), a result similar to that obtained for α-glucosidase. The type of inhibition was competitive for both enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: There was strong inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by FHDHA, FHDHA1 and plumieride, suggesting that these enzymes slow glucose absorption.

Volatile oil of Croton zehntneri per oral sub-acute treatment offers small toxicity: perspective of therapeutic use

ABSTRACT Croton zehntneri Pax & K. Hoffm., Euphorbiaceae, or "canela-de-cunhé" is used in the Northeast Brazil to treat several diseases. Leaves and aerial parts of C. zehntneri are rich in volatile oil of high potential therapeutic. This study aimed to investigate volatile oil systemic toxicity after per oral treatment in rats. Volatile oil characterization (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) showed 85.7% anethole and 4.8% estragole. Male Wistar rats (116-149 g) were treated with volatile oil (250 mg/kg p.o.) during ten weeks and evaluated for the following parameters: survival; food and water intake; body mass; absolute/relative organs weight; hemogram; plasma biochemical dosage; organs morphology. Volatile oil did not alter animal water and food consumption or the relative/absolute weight of most organs, but animals gained less weight. Volatile oil did not alter function biomarkers of pancreas, kidney, heart or liver, but increased plasma gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (liver biomarker) and decreased uric acid (kidney biomarker). Although volatile oil had caused discrete morphological alterations in some organs, it did not induce architectural changes in these organs. In conclusion, the sub-acute per oral treatment with volatile oil no longer than ten weeks in rats offers small toxicity at doses below 250 mg/kg.

The mechanisms involved in the increased adiposity induced by interruption of regular physical exercise practice.

AIMS: We investigated the effects of physical detraining on lipogenesis/lipolysis and cellularity (apoptosis/adipogenesis) in rat subcutaneous (inguinal; SC) and visceral (retroperitoneal; RP) white adipose depots. MAIN METHODS: Three groups of male Wistar rats (6-wk old) were studied: (1) (T) trained for 12 weeks; (2) (D) trained for 8 weeks and detrained for 4 weeks; and (3) (S) age-matched sedentary. Training consisted of treadmill running sessions (1 h/day, 5 days/week, 50-60% maximal race capacity). KEY FINDINGS: Physical detraining increased glucose oxidation, lipogenesis, and adipocyte size in the SC and RP depots. The number of apoptotic SC adipocytes was reduced by 53% in the T (p < 0.0001) and by 43% in the D (p < 0.001) as compared with S. RP adipocyte apoptosis in the T and D was 9.48% and 10.9% greater compared to the S, respectively (p < 0.05). In the SC stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of D rats, adiponectin, sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and Perilipin A mRNA expressions were more pronounced than S group, suggesting a more intense adipogenesis. This putative adipogenic effect was not observed in the RP depot. The physical detraining promoted rapid increase in the SC and RP depots however not through the same mechanisms. SIGNIFICANCE: Physical detraining induced fat cell hypertrophy (increase of lipogenesis) in both SC and RP whereas hyperplasia (increase of adipogenesis and reduction of apoptosis) was found in SC only. These results indicate the mechanism associated with obesogenic effects of detraining varies with the fat depot.

Latex proteins from Calotropis procera: Toxicity and immunological tolerance revisited.

Many thousands of plants are disseminated worldwide in traditional and folk medicines based on the belief that their leaves, roots, seeds, bark or secretions, when adequately handled, can treat, alleviate or ameliorate numerous disease symptoms. Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) is a popular medicinal plant and the claims of this shrub's phytomedicinal properties have been scientifically validated. In this study, further prospects towards the in vivo toxicity and oral immunological tolerance of phytomodulatory proteins isolated from the latex of C. procera are reported. Acute toxicity was determined in mice by oral and intraperitoneal administration of latex proteins (LP) and was followed behavioral, hematological and histological analyses. Oral immunological tolerance to LP was assessed by intraperitoneal immunization in mice that had received LP orally before. Animals given 5000 mg/kg orally exhibited only discrete behavioral alterations and augmentation of monocytes. Death was not notified 14 days after exposure. However, all animals receiving LP 150 mg/kg by i.p. died in 1 h. Death (20%) was documented when LP (75 mg/kg) was given in the peritoneum and signs of harmful effects were observed in the survivors (80%). Oral immunological tolerance was observed in animals previously given LP orally, when they were further immunized/challenged with peritoneal exposure to different doses of LP. This was confirmed by the lowering of IgE and IgG in the serum, IL-4 and IFN-γ in spleen homogenates and the absence of anaphylaxis signs. It is therefore concluded that LP exhibited quite discrete adverse effects when orally administrated at higher concentrations and this route of administration did not stimulate adverse immunological reactions. Instead it was observed immunological tolerance. The present study contributes very important information concerning the safe use of C. procera as a phytotherapeutic agent.

Neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mothers promotes metabolic programming of adipose tissue in male rat offspring.

AIMS: Maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy can lead to fetal changes, like macrosomia or obesity in adultlife. Experimentalmodels of diabetes have been studied to evaluate the consequences of offspring lipidmetabolism. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic changes in adipose tissue of offspring of streptozotocininduced diabetic mothers during neonatal period. MAIN METHODS: Diabetes was induced in female rats by streptozotocin administration on 5th day of life. In adulthood, female rats were bred with control male rats. Male puppies were sacrificed on 12th week of life and epididymal (EP) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose fat pads were excised and weighted. Adipocytes were isolated and evaluated for basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, oxidation of glucose into CO2, and incorporationof glucose into lipids and lipolytic capacity. KEY FINDINGS: Bodyweight, EP fat padweight and diameter of adipocytes fromoffspring of diabeticmothers were increased in comparison to offspring of control mothers. EP adipocytes from offspring of diabetic mothers presented increased basal and insulin stimulated glucose uptake in comparison to control ones. Similar pattern was observed for glucose oxidation into CO2 and incorporation into lipids. However, significant difference in lipolytic capacity in vitrowas not observed. Protein content of GLUT4, insulin receptor and acetyl-CoA carboxylase was significantly increased in EP fat pad of offspring of diabetic mothers in relation to control group. SIGNIFICANCE: Metabolic programming occurred in the adipose tissue of offspring of diabetic mothers, increasing its capacity to store lipids with no changes in lipolytic capacity.

Cessation of physical exercise changes metabolism and modifies the adipocyte cellularity of the periepididymal white adipose tissue in rats.

All of the adaptations acquired through physical training are reversible with inactivity. Although significant reductions in maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max) can be observed within 2 to 4 wk of detraining, the consequences of detraining on the physiology of adipose tissue are poorly known. Our aim was therefore to investigate the effects of discontinuing training (physical detraining) on the metabolism and adipocyte cellularity of rat periepididymal (PE) adipose tissue. Male Wistar rats, aged 6 wk, were divided into three groups and studied for 12 wk under the following conditions: 1) trained (T) throughout the period; 2) detrained (D), trained during the first 8 wk and detrained during the remaining 4 wk; and 3) age-matched sedentary (S). Training consisted of treadmill running sessions (1 h/day, 5 days/wk, 50-60% Vo2max). The PE adipocyte size analysis revealed significant differences between the groups. The adipocyte cross-sectional area (in µm(2)) was significantly larger in D than in the T and S groups (3,474 ± 68.8; 1,945.7 ± 45.6; 2,492.4 ± 49.08, respectively, P < 0.05). Compared with T, the isolated adipose cells (of the D rats) showed a 48% increase in the ability to perform lipogenesis (both basal and maximally insulin-stimulated) and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. No changes were observed with respect to unstimulated lipolysis. A 15% reduction in the proportion of apoptotic adipocytes was observed in groups T and D compared with group S. The gene expression levels of adiponectin and PPAR-gamma were upregulated by factors of 3 and 2 in D vs. S, respectively. PREF-1 gene expression was 3-fold higher in T vs. S. From these results, we hypothesize that adipogenesis was stimulated in group D and accompanied by significant adipocyte hypertrophy and an increase in the lipogenic capacity of the adipocytes. The occurrence of apoptotic nuclei in PE fat cells was reduced in the D and T rats; these results raise the possibility that the adipose tissue changes after detraining are obesogenic.

Essential oil of Croton zehntneri and its major constituent anethole display gastroprotective effect by increasing the surface mucous layer.

Croton zehntneri, a plant native to northeastern Brazil, is widely used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems and has rich essential oil content. The effects of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (EOCZ) and its main constituent anethole on several models of gastric lesions were studied in mice and rats. Oral treatment with EOCZ and anethole, both at doses of 30-300 mg/kg, caused similar and dose-dependent gastroprotection against ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric damage, but did not change cold-restraint stress-induced ulcers in rats. Furthermore, EOCZ and anethole (both at 30 and 300 mg/kg) similarly and significantly increased the mucus production by the gastric mucosa, measured by Alcian blue binding, in ethanol-induced ulcer model. However, at the same doses, neither EOCZ nor anethole promoted significant alteration in gastric production of non-protein sulfhydryl groups. In pylorus-ligated model, neither EOCZ nor anethole (both at 30 and 300 mg/kg) had a significant effect on the volume of gastric juice, pH, or total acidity. The results of this study show for the first time that EOCZ possesses a gastroprotective potential, an effect mostly attributed to the action of anethole. This activity is related predominantly to the ability of EOCZ and anethole to enhance the production of gastric wall mucus, an important gastroprotective factor. Furthermore, they suggest that EOCZ has potential therapeutic application for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Identification of intracellular peptides in rat adipose tissue: Insights into insulin resistance.

Intracellular peptides generated by the proteasome and oligopeptidases have been suggested to function in signal transduction and to improve insulin resistance in mice fed a high-caloric diet. The aim of this study was to identify specific intracellular peptides in the adipose tissue of Wistar rats that could be associated with the physiological and therapeutic control of glucose uptake. Using semiquantitative mass spectrometry and LC/MS/MS analyses, we identified ten peptides in the epididymal adipose tissue of the Wistar rats; three of these peptides were present at increased levels in rats that were fed a high-caloric Western diet (WD) compared with rats fed a control diet (CD). The results of affinity chromatography suggested that in the cytoplasm of epididymal adipose tissue from either WD or CD rats, distinctive proteins bind to these peptides. However, despite the observed increase in the WD animals, the evaluated peptides increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with palmitate. Thus, intracellular peptides from the adipose tissue of Wistar rats can bind to specific proteins and facilitate insulin-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Metabolic disorders and adipose tissue insulin responsiveness in neonatally STZ-induced diabetic rats are improved by long-term melatonin treatment.

Diabetes mellitus is a product of low insulin sensibility and pancreatic ß-cell insufficiency. Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes during the neonatal period by the fifth day of age develop the classic diabetic picture of hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, polyuria, and polydipsia aggravated by insulin resistance in adulthood. In this study, we investigated whether the effect of long-term treatment with melatonin can improve insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders in these animals. At the fourth week of age, diabetic animals started an 8-wk treatment with melatonin (1 mg/kg body weight) in the drinking water at night. Animals were then killing, and the sc, epididymal (EP), and retroperitoneal (RP) fat pads were excised, weighed, and processed for adipocyte isolation for morphometric analysis as well as for measuring glucose uptake, oxidation, and incorporation of glucose into lipids. Blood samples were collected for biochemical assays. Melatonin treatment reduced hyperglycemia, polydipsia, and polyphagia as well as improved insulin resistance as demonstrated by constant glucose disappearance rate and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance. However, melatonin treatment was unable to recover body weight deficiency, fat mass, and adipocyte size of diabetic animals. Adiponectin and fructosamine levels were completely recovered by melatonin, whereas neither plasma insulin level nor insulin secretion capacity was improved in diabetic animals. Furthermore, melatonin caused a marked delay in the sexual development, leaving genital structures smaller than those of nontreated diabetic animals. Melatonin treatment improved the responsiveness of adipocytes to insulin in diabetic animals measured by tests of glucose uptake (sc, EP, and RP), glucose oxidation, and incorporation of glucose into lipids (EP and RP), an effect that seems partially related to an increased expression of insulin receptor substrate 1, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. In conclusion, melatonin treatment was capable of ameliorating the metabolic abnormalities in this particular diabetes model, including insulin resistance and promoting a better long-term glycemic control.

Antispasmodic effects of essential oil of Pterodon polygalaeflorus and its main constituent ß-caryophyllene on rat isolated ileum.

This study investigates the effects of essential oil of Pterodon polygalaeflorus (EOPP) and ß-caryophyllene (ß-CAR). EOPP and ß-CAR relaxed the basal tone of ileum smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) s = 394.35 ± 62.12 and 68.65 ± 9.51 µg/mL respectively), an effect that was unaltered by hexamethonium, L-nitroarginine methyl ester or indomethacin. Both EOPP and ß-CAR evoked a concentration-dependent relaxation of ileum pre-contracted with KCl with an IC(50) value of 107.78 ± 10.47 and 17.35 ± 0.75 µg/mL, respectively. EOPP and ß-CAR inhibited the contractions induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and by KCl. In ileal preparations, the CaCl(2) -induced contractions were reduced by EOPP (300 µg/mL) and ß-CAR (100 µg/mL). Furthermore, CaCl(2) -induced contractions were also reduced by EOPP (300 µg/mL) and ß-CAR (100 µg/mL) in ileal preparations pretreated with ACh under Ca(2+) -free condition and in the presence of verapamil. EOPP (100 and 300 µg/mL) and ß-CAR (30 and 100 µg/mL) reduced the ACh-induced contractions of isolated rat ileum under Ca(2+) -free conditions. In the presence of high KCl and Ca(2+) -free conditions, EOPP (300 µg/mL) and ß-CAR (100 µg/mL) reduced the contractions induced by barium. A similar effect was also observed with verapamil. It is concluded that (i) ß-CAR is an important constituent involved in the myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects induced by EOPP; (ii) the inhibitory effect on intestinal contractility is myogenic and seems mainly mediated through an intracellular mechanism. However, the ability of EOPP and ß-CAR to decrease Ca(2+) influx through cytoplasmic membrane could not be discounted.