RESUMO
Male germ-cell apoptosis occurs naturally and can be increased by exposure to drugs and toxic chemicals. Individuals may have different rates of apoptosis and are likely to also exhibit differential sensitivity to outside influences. Previously, we reported that p-chloroamphetamine (pCA), a substance that inhibits serotonin synthesis, induced germ-cell apoptosis in prepubertal male rats. Here, we identified prepubertal rats with naturally high or low rates of germ-cell apoptosis and evaluated gene expression in both groups. Bax and Shbg mRNA levels were higher in rats with high rates of germ-cell apoptosis. Rats were then treated with pCA and the neuro-hormonal response and gene expression were evaluated. Treatment with pCA induced a reduction in serotonin concentrations but levels of sex hormones and gonadotrophins were not changed. Rats with initially high rates of germ-cell apoptosis had even higher rates of germ-cell apoptosis after treatment with pCA. In rats with high rates of germ-cell apoptosis Bax mRNA expression remained high after treatment with pCA. On the basis of category, an inverse relationship between mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl2, Bax and AR and Bax and Hsd3b2 was found. Here we provide evidence that innate levels of germ-cell apoptosis could be explained by the level of mRNA expression of genes involved with apoptosis and spermatogenesis.
Assuntos
Apoptose , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Serotonina/metabolismo , Maturidade Sexual , Espermatogênese , Espermatogônias/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácido Hidroxi-Indolacético/metabolismo , Cinética , Masculino , Progesterona Redutase/genética , Progesterona Redutase/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Distribuição Aleatória , Ratos , Receptores Androgênicos/genética , Receptores Androgênicos/metabolismo , Receptores de Superfície Celular/genética , Receptores de Superfície Celular/metabolismo , Serotoninérgicos/farmacologia , Maturidade Sexual/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatogônias/citologia , Espermatogônias/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/genética , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/metabolismo , p-Cloroanfetamina/farmacologiaRESUMO
Practical evidence suggests possible beneficial effects with the combined use of prebiotics and probiotics which can improve production parameters. The objective of the study was to investigate the addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) as prebiotic and the combination of Lactobacillus spp. (L), Bacillus spp. (B) as probiotics on productive parameters and economic feasibility. Four hundred male pigs, hybrids of commercial genetic lines (Pietrain), were used: T1 = control group, T2 = 4 kg/tonne SC, T3 = 0.8 kg/tonne feed L and B, T4 = 4 kg/tonne SC + 0.8 kg/tonne L and B. Productive parameters were recorded in the treatment groups for four periods. Then, the viscera of five pigs per treatment were collected after slaughter to evaluate the histological changes and cytokine concentrations in the ileum. The weight gains of groups at 70-100, 100-125 and 125-150 days in the T4 group showed statistically increases (p < .05). Feed intake had a significant difference (p < .05) in T3 versus T1. The feed-conversion ratio improved for all periods in the T4 group (p < .05). The eosinophil, mononuclear infiltration and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) in the mucosa were lower for treatments with probiotics. In conclusion, there was an economic benefit when using both prebiotics and probiotics in the diet of pigs from weaning to finishing.