High Fat-High Fructose Diet Elicits Hypogonadotropism Culminating in Autophagy-Mediated Defective Differentiation of Ovarian Follicles.

Pituitary gonadotropins directly govern ovarian functions, which are in turn regulated by the ovarian steroid hormones. The precise interplay of gonadotropins and steroid hormones is critical for follicle growth and differentiation. Furthermore, autophagy regulates ovarian follicle differentiation. However, how the high-fat-high fructose (HFD-HF) diet regulates gonadotropins and facilitates autophagy-mediated follicular differentiation in the ovary is obscure. We fed prepubertal rats (PND 25) an HFD-HF diet until PND 90. The results showed diminished adenohypophyseal GnRHR, PR, and aromatase expression, whereas AR, ERα, PRLR, and inhibin were augmented, resulting in gonadotropins decline. Interestingly, autophagy biomarkers, Beclin-1, ATG5, ATG12, LC3-II, and LAMP1 were reduced but SQSTM1/p62 was augmented in the ovaries of HFD-HF-fed rats, causing autolysosome to aggregation. The diet altered T, E2, P4, PRL, and their receptors status in the ovary, disturbed estrous cyclicity, and delayed vaginal opening. Ovarian histomorphology exhibited numerous cystic and atretic follicles, along with disturbed follicular maturation and ovulation. Moreover, the reduction of FSHR; steroidogenic proteins; receptor proteins AR, ERß, PR; and signaling proteins Wnt2 and ß-catenin was also noticed in the ovary, whereas PRLR, inhibin, and pGSK3ß were augmented. In conclusion, exposure to a prepubertal HFD-HF diet leads to hypogonadotropism and the autophagy-mediated defective differentiation of ovarian follicles, abating fertility in adult rats.

Microbial conversion of vanillin from ferulic acid extracted from raw coir pith.

Coir pith, an agro-industrial residue, is resistant to natural degradation, and its accumulation causes environmental pollution. Ferulic acid, a precursor of vanillin, was extracted from the raw coir pith by chemical pre-treatment such as alkaline hydrolysis, acidification, and liquid-liquid extraction method. The obtained ferulic acid (1.2 g/50 g) was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used as a substrate for biotransformation by Aspergillus niger to vanillic acid, which, in turn, was fermented by using Phanerochaete chrysosporium to vanillin. The quantity of vanillic acid detected by HPLC on the third day of incubation was 0.773 g/L, while the optimal yield of vanillin on the subsequent third day of incubation was 0.628 g/L. Thus, the chemical extraction of ferulic acid from coir pith ensued bioconversion into vanillin. These products are highly valuable and economical to be used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, health, cosmetics, and neutraceuticals.