Effect of soybean on bone and gonad hormones in lead intoxicated rats

Protective and treated dietary soybean against lead toxicity in male rats was investigated in bone and hormonal changes of reproductive system. Sixty adult male rats were divided into the following groups: Group I: 30 rats fed on standard casein and were divided into three equal subgroups Group la: control casein. Group Ib: [casein-protected] rats fed casein before lead intoxication Group I c: [casein-treated] rats fed casein after lead intoxication. Group II: 30 rats fed on standard soybean. They were also divided into three equal subgroups. Group IIa: control soybean. Group IIb: [soybean-protected] rats fed soybean before lead intoxication. Group IIc: [soybean-treated] rats fed soybean after lead intoxication. Results demonstrated that accumulation of lead in soft tissues [liver, kidney and testis] was much greater in protective groups than curative ones. There was slightly significant increase in femoral bone mass density [BMD] in soybean protected group as compared with either soybean treated or casein protected group. Serum testosterone was slightly significantly increased in soybean treated group compared to soybean protected group but these levels of hormone do not reach to normal level. Serum LH hormone level was not changed between both groups. It can concluded that soybean diet ameliorate the bone and testis intoxicated with lead

Purification and characterization of bacterial CM-cellulase from camel rumen fluid [Camelus dromedarius]

Bacterial CM-cellulase [1,4-beta-D-glucanohydrolase, [EC 3.2.1.4]] from camelrumen fluid, an enzyme that causes a random secession of cellulose chainyielding glucose and cellotriose, was purified and characterized. Thepurification procedure included ammonium sulfate precipitation andchromatographies on DEAE-cellulose, and Sepharose 6B columns. By ion exchangeon DEAE-cellulose, five isoenzymes of CM-cellulase were obtained. CM-cellulase CII, CIV and CV were purified 11.2, 13.9 and 25.9 fold with 17.3%, 12.5% and 13.7% recovery in activities, respectively. The molecularweights of CM-cellulase CII, CIV and CV were estimated to be 12000, 13000 and 14600, respectively, for the native and 13000 for the denatured enzymes,respectively, suggesting that isoforms are monomeric. Amino acid compositionof the three CM-cellulases were detected. CM-cellulases CII, CIV and CV hadisoelectric points at 5.1, 6.6 and 5.1 and km values of 8.3, 6.25 and 5 mgCM-cellulase/ml, respectively, with more affinity toward CM-cellulase. CM-cellulases CII and CV had similar temperature optima at 40C, while themaximum activity for cellulase CIV was at 50C and had identical pH optimaat 5.5. The effect of divalent metal cations and different inhibitor on thethree isoenzyme activities was examined