ABSTRACT
Neuropathic pain is a condition with varying origins, including reduced dietary micronutrient intake. Phytate is a polyphosphate found in seeds and grains that can act as an antinutrient due to the ability of sequester essential divalent metals. Here we tested whether moderate dietary phytate intake could alter nociceptive pain. We subjected weaning mice to a chow supplemented with 1% phytate for eight weeks. Body weight gain, glycemic responses, food ingestion, water ingestion, and liver and adipose tissue weights were not altered compared to controls. We observed a decreased mechanical allodynia threshold in the intervention group, although there were no changes in heat- or cold-induced pain. Animals consuming phytate showed reduced spinal cord tumor necrosis factor (TNF), indicating altered inflammatory process. These data provide evidence for a subclinical induction of mechanical allodynia that is independent of phytate consumption in animals with otherwise normal phenotypic pattern.
ABSTRACT
Ultrastructural aspects of spermiogenesis and testicular spermatozoa of three anuran amphibians, Physalaemus biligonigerus, P. fuscomaculatus and P. gracilis, were investigated by electron microscopy. The nuclei, middle pieces and tails of the three species were similar. In all cases, the nuclei were elongated and the acrosome consisted of a cone-shaped cap. The connecting pieces located in the flagellum implantation zone had transverse striations. The tails had a 9 + 2 axial filament pattern, a juxtaxonemal fiber and an undulating membrane. In contrast to other Leptodactylidae spermatozoa, no axial rod were observed in these Physalaemus species