Effects of fermentation conditions on valuable products of ethanolic fungus Mucor indicus

Background: Mucor indicus is a dimorphic fungus used in the production of ethanol, oil, protein, and glucosamine. It can ferment different pentoses and hexoses; however, the yields of products highly depend on the nutrients and cultivation conditions. In this study, the effects of different morphologic forms, cultivation time and temperature, presence or absence of oxygen, carbon sources, and concentration of nitrogen source on the products of M. indicus were investigated. Results: The fungus with all morphologies produced high yields of ethanol, in the range of 0.32­0.43 g/g, on glucose. However, the fungus with filamentous morphology produced higher amounts of oil, protein, phosphate, and glucosamine together with ethanol, compared with other morphologies. A higher amount of oil (0.145 g/g biomass) was produced at 28°C, while the best temperature for protein and glucosamine production was 32 and 37°C, respectively. Although ethanol was produced at a higher yield (0.44 g/g) under anaerobic conditions compared with aerobic conditions (yield of 0.41 g/g), aerobic cultivation resulted in higher yields of protein (0.51 g/g biomass), glucosamine (0.16 g/g alkali insoluble material, AIM), and phosphate (0.11 g/g AIM). Conclusions: It is not possible to have the maximum amounts of the products simultaneously. The fermentation conditions and composition of culture media determine the product yields. Carbon source type and the addition of nitrogen source are among the most influencing factors on the product yields. Moreover, all measured products were made with higher yields in cultivation on glucose, except glucosamine, which was produced with higher yields on xylose.

Difficult Establishment of a Chronic Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Induced Gastric Inflammation Rat Model due to Gastric Adaptation and Small Bowel Damage / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease has not decreased mainly due to an increase in the use of NSAIDs. This study was conducted in order to determine whether a chronic NSAID-induced gastric inflammation model could be established by repeated administration of NSAID. METHODS: Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was administered once per week for six weeks in 8- and 26-week rats and animals were sacrificed every week after administration. Gross ulcer index, histologic damage index, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and mucus (glucosamine) levels were measured. Small bowel damage was also evaluated. RESULTS: Gross gastric damage index showed a peak level at three weeks and then decreased slowly in the 26-week indomethacin group. Gastric mucosal glucosamine level increased in both the 8-week (p=0.038) and 26-week groups (p=0.007). In addition, gastric mucosal MPO level decreased in the 8-week group (p=0.018) but did not show a decrease in the 26-week group. Small bowel damage began to occur at three weeks during the schedule and eight of 36 rats (22.2%) died due to perforation or peritonitis of the small bowel in the 8- and 26-week indomethacin groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to gastric adaptation and small bowel damage, repeated administration of NSAID to experimental animals may not be an adequate method for establishment of the chronic gastric inflammation model.

Difficult Establishment of a Chronic Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Induced Gastric Inflammation Rat Model due to Gastric Adaptation and Small Bowel Damage / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease has not decreased mainly due to an increase in the use of NSAIDs. This study was conducted in order to determine whether a chronic NSAID-induced gastric inflammation model could be established by repeated administration of NSAID. METHODS: Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was administered once per week for six weeks in 8- and 26-week rats and animals were sacrificed every week after administration. Gross ulcer index, histologic damage index, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and mucus (glucosamine) levels were measured. Small bowel damage was also evaluated. RESULTS: Gross gastric damage index showed a peak level at three weeks and then decreased slowly in the 26-week indomethacin group. Gastric mucosal glucosamine level increased in both the 8-week (p=0.038) and 26-week groups (p=0.007). In addition, gastric mucosal MPO level decreased in the 8-week group (p=0.018) but did not show a decrease in the 26-week group. Small bowel damage began to occur at three weeks during the schedule and eight of 36 rats (22.2%) died due to perforation or peritonitis of the small bowel in the 8- and 26-week indomethacin groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to gastric adaptation and small bowel damage, repeated administration of NSAID to experimental animals may not be an adequate method for establishment of the chronic gastric inflammation model.

Proteoglycans production by aortic vascular smooth muscle cells from hypertensive rats

Remodeling of large and small arteries contributes to the development and complications of hypertension. Artery structural changes in chronic sustained hypertension include vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications. Extracellular constituents such as proteoglycans (PGs), may modulate vascular stiffness and VSMC growth and differentiation. We examined the effect of growth factors on secreted and membrane-bound PGs synthesis by cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) from 12- to 14- week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar rats. After stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 0.1% FCS as control, PGs synthesis (dpm/ng DNA) was evaluated in the medium (M-ECM) and in the cell layer (P-ECM) by a double-isotopic label method using both [3H]-glucosamine and [35S]-sodium sulfate which are incorporated into all complex carbohydrates or only into sulfated dysaccharides, respectively. Data are presented as percent of the control (0.1% FCS). SHR VSMC displayed a significantly greater synthesis of M-ECM [3H]-PGs than Wistar rat cells, with both treatments, but no differences in M-ECM [35S] uptake were found in any case. In the P-ECM, both PDGF-BB and 10% FCS produced a greater effect on [3H]-PGs and sulfated PGs synthesis in VSMC from SHR. An important change seen in SHR cells was a significant decreased sulfation, assessed by [35S]/[3H] ratio, in basal and stimulation conditions. Present results indicate the existence of changes in PGS synthesis and modulation in VSMC from a conduit-artery of SHR and support the pathophysiological role proposed for matrix proteoglycans in the vascular wall changes associated to hypertension and related vascular diseases as atherosclerosis.