Lipogenesis and lipid peroxidation in rat testes after long-term treatment with sucrose and tannic acid in drinking water.

We studied the influence of long-term treatment with sucrose and tannic acid in drinking water on the fatty acid profile and lipid peroxidation in rat testes. Male Wistar rats were supplemented with sucrose (30% w/v) or with sucrose and tannic acid (sucrose 30% w/v, tannic acid 0.1% w/v) in drinking water. The treatment with sucrose elevated blood glucose levels in the plasma (p < .05) and decreased the testis weight (p < .05) and testis index (p < .05) of the rats. Sucrose treatment increased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and C22:6n3, and decreased n6 fatty acids in testis tissue. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased after sucrose administration in plasma (p < .05) and testis tissue (p < .01). The addition of tannic acid led to the decrease in lipid peroxidation in the plasma (p < .05) and testis (p < .05), a further increase in MUFA and decrease in n6 fatty acids. In conclusion, sucrose significantly altered the testis fatty acid profile with an increase in MUFA and C22:6n3, and a decrease in n6 fatty acids. Tannic acid attenuated oxidative stress and hyperglycaemia, but it did not improve pathological changes in the fatty acid composition of the testis.

The influence of sex and gonadectomy on hepatic and brain fatty acid composition, lipogenesis and ß-oxidation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sex and castration of rats on liver and brain fatty acid profile and liver mRNA expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and ß-oxidation. Castration significantly increased body weight and liver index and decreased serum triglyceride content in the female rats. The fatty acid composition of the liver tissue was influenced by sex and castration. Male rats had higher content of C16:0, C18:1n7, C18:2n6 and C22:5n3, while female rats had higher content of C18:0, C20:4n6 and C22:6n3. Castration of male rats decreased differences caused by sex for C18:2n6, C20:4n6 and C22:6n3. Values for C16:1n7 were higher in the castrated male rats in comparison with all other groups. Liver phospholipids showed a distribution of fatty acids similar to the total lipids. Brain total lipids and phospholipids were not influenced by sex or castration. Castration increased ∆6D gene expression in both the sexes, while ∆5D and ∆9D increased in females and males respectively. Gonadectomy increased expression of the FASN gene in the females and decreased CPT1 and ACOX1 gene expression in the liver tissue of male rats. The observed results of lipid peroxidation, measured by TBARS, were the lowest in the intact females in comparison with all other groups. In conclusion, sex strongly influences both SFA and PUFA in liver tissue, and castration decreases these differences only for PUFA. Castration also influences the expression of the genes involved in lipid metabolism differently in male and female rats, with an increase in lipogenic genes in female rats and a decrease in key genes for mitochondrial and peroxisomal ß-oxidation in male rats.

Tissue fatty acid composition and estimated ∆ desaturase activity after castration in chicken broilers fed with linseed or sunflower oil.

The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of the short-term addition of sunflower and linseed oil and castration on fatty acid composition and desaturation indexes in chicken broilers. Forty-eight male Ross 308 chicken broilers were supplemented with 5% of sunflower or linseed oil. The four experimental groups were linseed oil supplementation and castration (LC), linseed oil without castration (LN), sunflower oil and castration (SC) and sunflower oil without castration (SN). There was no significant influence of castration or oil supplement on live weights, weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion. Castration resulted in an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total n3, n6, measured desaturation indexes and a decrease in the saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content of abdominal fat. In breast muscle, castration increased PUFA and 18:3n3 values, while in the liver tissue, castration did not influence the parameters measured. Linseed oil supplementation significantly increased 18:3n3, n3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA), total n3 and decreased total n6, n6/n3 ratio, and 20:4n6 content. Values for 20:4n6 were the highest in SC and the lowest in the LC group. Linseed oil also significantly decreased ∆5 and ∆4 desaturation indexes in the thighs and ∆5 and ∆5, 6 in abdominal fat and the liver. These results suggest that short-term supplementation of basal diet with 5% of linseed oil could significantly increase n3 LC PUFA and decrease n6/n3 ratio content in the edible tissues of chicken broilers, without adverse effects on growth performance. Meanwhile, castration only improved fatty acid profile in abdominal fat, which is not nutritionally important. The interactions observed between basal diet, supplemented oil, sex hormones and other non-nutritional factors must be elucidated in future trials in order to correctly predict the nutritional value of linseed-fed poultry.

Moderating effect of ppar-γ on the association of c-reactive protein and ischemic stroke in patients younger than 60.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the moderating effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene variants on the association of serum C-reactive protein level (CRP) and ischemic stroke (IS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 114 patients with IS and 135 healthy controls were included. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension, smoking, body mass index and previous therapy with antihypertensive and/or statins, PPAR-γ had statistically significant moderating effect on association of serum CRP level and IS in patients younger than 60. In participants with PPAR CG or GG genotype level of CRP and IS were not statistically significantly associated (OR = 1.00; 95% CI 0.90-1.10; p = 0.933), but in participants with PPAR CC genotype, the association of serum CRP level and IS was significant (OR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.21-2.31; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In patients with PPAR CC genotype the association of serum CRP level and IS was significant.

Efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin after futile recanalisation therapy in patients with severe stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Golden standard of acute stroke treatment is recanalisation therapy. However, opening the occluded blood vessel sometimes does not show the expected clinical result or leads to haemorrhagic complications. As neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity play an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke, neuroprotective agents might preserve brain tissue after futile recanalisation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After recanalisation therapy and not later than 24 h after symptoms onset, patients with initial NIHSS of ≥ 8 were assigned to the investigational and control group. The investigational group received intravenous Cerebrolysin as add-on therapy. The primary objective was to assess the clinical efficacy of Cerebrolysin. The secondary objective was to investigate its effect on haemorrhagic transition and to confirm its safety profile. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of patients showed no significant differences between the two groups. No difference could be detected between the two groups in the mRS scale though the Cerebrolysin group showed descriptive superiority over the control group. We found a statistically significant difference considering haemorrhagic transition and mortality rate in favour of the Cerebrolysin group. DISCUSSION: The multimodal neurotrophic agent Cerebrolysin holds promise to impact on the late consequences of a reperfusion syndrome. Its influence on reducing neuroinflammation, promoting neuronal cell viability and neurogenesis as well as the stabilising effect on the blood-brain barrier suggests a protective effect on the neurovascular unit even when no recanalisation occurs. We confirmed the excellent safety profile of Cerebrolysin. CONCLUSION: Cerebrolysin as add-on therapy might be beneficial and safe for patients with acute stroke in terms of lowering risk for haemorrhagic complications after recanalisation therapy.