Hemoplasma prevalence and hematological abnormalities associated with infection in three different cat populations from Southern Brazil / Prevalência da infecção por hemoplasmas e alterações hematológicas associadas à infecção em três diferentes populações de gatos do sul do Brasil

Three hemoplasma species are recognized in domestic cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. We report the prevalence and hematological abnormalities of hemoplasma infection in 369 domestic cats from three different populations (blood donors, hospitalized cats and shelter cats) from Southern Brazil. Complete blood counts were performed at the time of blood collection, and DNA was extracted and tested by conventional PCR for each hemoplasma species. A total of 79 samples (21.40%) were positive for at least one species. The most prevalent hemoplasma was ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, with 50/369 (13.55%) positive cats, followed by ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’, 10/369 (2.71%), and Mycoplasma haemofelis, 8/369 (2.16%). Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ coinfection was observed in 4/369 (1.08%), whereas ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ in 5/369 (1.35%). Three cats (0.81%) were infected with all three hemoplasmas. There was no association between infection and the different populations. Anemia was associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, but not with ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. Male cats and cats with outdoor access were more likely to be infected. Although ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ is believed to cause minimal or no hematological alterations, the infected cats studied herein were more likely to be anemic.

Três espécies de hemoplasmas são reconhecidas em gatos domésticos: Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ e ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. A prevalência e alterações hematológicas associadas à infecção por hemoplasmas foi estudada, em 369 gatos domésticos de três populações distintas (doadores de sangue, hospitais e gatos de abrigo) do Sul do Brasil. Foram realizados hemogramas completos no momento da coleta de sangue e as amostras tiveram seu DNA extraído e testado por PCR convencional para cada espécie de hemoplasmas. Setenta e nove amostras (21,40%) foram positivas para pelo menos uma espécie. O mais prevalente foi ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ com 50/369 (13,55%) gatos positivos, seguidos por ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ com 10/369 (2,71%) e Mycoplasma haemofelis com 8/369 (2,16%). Coinfecção por Mycoplasma haemofelis e ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ foi observada em 4/369 (1,08%), enquanto ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ e ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ coinfectaram 5/369 (1,35%) gatos. Três (0,81%) gatos apresentaram infecção pelos três hemoplasmas. Não houve associação entre a infecção e as diferentes populações. Anemia foi associada com a infecção por Mycoplasma haemofelis e ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, mas não com ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. Gatos machos e com acesso à rua apresentaram maior probabilidade de serem infectados. Embora se acredite que ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ possa causar alterações hematológicas mínimas ou ausentes, gatos infectados encontrados neste estudo foram mais propensos à anemia.

6 Paths of ERK5 signaling pathway regulate hepatocyte proliferation in rat liver regeneration.

Generally, extra-cellular-signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway regulates many physiological activities, such as cell proliferation and cell differentiation. However, little is known about how ERK5 signaling pathway composed of 15 paths participates in regulating hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration (LR). In this study, to explore the influence ERK5 signaling pathway upon hepatocytes at gene transcription level, rat genome 230 2.0 array was used to detect expression changes of 75 related genes in isolated hepatocytes from rat regenerating liver. Bioinformatics and systems biology methods were applied to analyze the precise role of ERK5 signaling pathway in regulating hepatocyte proliferation during LR. Results showed that 62 genes were contained in the array and 22 genes were significantly changed. It was found that 6 paths were related to hepatocyte proliferation during rat LR. Among them, paths 3, 6 and 13 of ERK5 signaling pathway modulated cell cycle progression by decreasing the negative influence on ERK5 and paths 3, 4, 8 and 9 by reinforcing the positive influence on ERK5. In summary, the study shows that 22 genes and 6 paths of ERK5 signaling pathway participate in regulating proliferation of hepatocytes in rat LR.

Study of rat hepatocytes in primary culture submitted to hypoxia and reoxygenation: action of the cytoprotectors prostaglandin E1, superoxide dismutase, allopurinol and verapamil / Estudo de hepatócitos de rato em cultura primária submetidos a hipóxia e reoxigenação: ação dos citoprotetores prostaglandina E1, superóxido dismutase, alopurinol e verapamil

Context: Exposure of hepatocytes to pathological conditions in a microenvironment of hypoxia and reoxygenation is very frequent in hepatic diseases. Several substances present perspectives for cytoprotective action on hepatocyte submitted to reoxygenation after hypoxia and simple hypoxia. Objective: We research therapeutic options for hepatocytes submitted to hypoxia and hypoxia + reoxygenation injury. Methods: Primary culture of rat hepatocytes was submitted to hypoxia (2 hours) plus reoxygenation (2 hours) and simple hypoxia (4 hours) in the presence or the absence of cytoprotectors. The hepatocyte lesion was evaluated by functional criteria through percentage of lactate dehydrogenase released and cell viability. The effects of the cytoprotectors prostaglandin E1 3 ηg/mL, superoxide dismutase 80 μg/mL, allopurinol 20 μM and verapamil 10-4 M were studied in this model of injury. Results: Reoxygenation after hypoxia induced more significant lesion in cultured hepatocytes compared to simple hypoxia, detected by analysis of functional criteria. There was a significant reduction of percentage of lactate dehydrogenase released and a significant increase of percentage of cell viability in the hypoxia + reoxygenation + cytoprotectors groups compared to hypoxia + reoxygenation groups. Prostaglandin E1, superoxide dismutase and verapamil also protected the group submitted to simple hypoxia, when evaluated by functional criteria. Conclusions: We conclude that reoxygenation after hypoxia significantly increased the lesion of cultured rat hepatocytes when compared to simple hypoxia. Prostaglandin E1, superoxide dismutase, allopurinol and verapamil acted as cytoprotectors to the rat cultured hepatocytes submitted to hypoxia + reoxygenation in vitro. The substances prostaglandin E1, superoxide dismutase and verapamil protected hepatocytes submitted to simple hypoxia on the basis of all the criteria studied in this experimental model.

Contexto: A exposição dos hepatócitos a condições patológicas em que ocorram microambientes de hipóxia e reoxigenação são muito frequentes em doenças hepáticas. Várias substâncias apresentam perspectivas de ação citoprotetora para hepatócitos submetidos a reoxigenação após hipóxia e hipóxia simples. Objetivo: Pesquisaram-se opções terapêuticas para o dano dos hepatócitos submetidos a hipóxia e hipóxia + reoxigenação. Métodos: Hepatócitos de rato em cultura primária foram submetidos a hipóxia (2 horas) mais reoxigenação (2 horas) e hipóxia simples (4 horas), na presença ou ausência dos citoprotetores. A lesão dos hepatócitos foi avaliada por critérios funcionais através da percentagem liberada de desidrogenase láctica e da viabilidade celular. Os efeitos dos citoprotetores prostaglandina E1 3 ηg/mL, superóxido dismutase 80 μg/mL, alopurinol 20 μM e verapamil 10-4M, foram estudados neste modelo de injúria celular. Resultados: A reoxigenação após hipóxia induziu lesão mais significativa nos hepatócitos cultivados comparado com hipóxia simples, conforme demonstrado pela análise dos critérios funcionais. Houve significativa redução da porcentagem liberada de desidrogenase láctica e aumento significativo da percentagem de viabilidade celular nos grupos hipóxia + reoxigenação + citoprotetores em comparação com o grupo hipóxia + reoxigenação. Prostaglandina E1, superóxido dismutase e verapamil também protegeram o grupo hipóxia simples, quando avaliado pelos critérios funcionais. Conclusões: Conclui-se que a reoxigenação após hipóxia aumentou significativamente a lesão dos hepatócitos de rato cultivados, em comparação com a hipóxia simples. Prostaglandina E1, superóxido dismutase, alopurinol e verapamil foram citoprotetores para os hepatócitos de rato submetidos a hipóxia + reoxigenação in vitro. As substâncias prostaglandina E1, superóxido dismutase e verapamil protegeram os hepatócitos submetidos a hipóxia simples com base em...

Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. leaves and calyces extracts in rats.

Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of the extracts of leaves and calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa were investigated by studying their in vitro inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation and in vivo effects on cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia. Highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by ethanolic extract of calyces followed by ethanolic extract of leaves followed by aqueous extract of leaves of H. sabdariffa. In cholesterol induced hyperlipidemic model, groups of rats treated with extracts of calyces and leaves of H. sabdariffa showed a significant decrease in the serum TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TAG values alongwith an increase in serum HDL-C levels. The treated groups also showed significant decrease in the atherogenic index, LDL-C: HDL-C risk ratios, and in the levels of SGOT, SGPT and ALP activities compared to cholesterol induced hyperlipidemic control group. Significant antihyperlipidemic activity was shown by ethanolic extract of calyces, followed by ethanolic extract of leaves. It was observed from the histopathological findings that rats fed with H. sabdariffa extracts showed decrease in granular degeneration caused by cholesterol feedings. Results suggest that the ethanolic extracts of calyces and leaves of H. sabdarifa containing polyphenols and flavanols possess significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities.

Epinepherine Inhibits the Activity of Phosphatidate Phosphohydrolase of Isolated Human Hepatocytes

The effect of epinephrine on phosphatidate phosphohydrolase [PAP] activity of isolated human hepatocytes was studied. Epineprine inhibited the enzyme activity progressively at concentrations above 0.1 micro M, reaching a maximum inhibition of 64.5% at 100 micro concentration. Inclusion of alprenolol, a Beta- receptor blocker, in the incubation mixture abolished the inhibitory effect of epinephrine on PAP, whereas the alpha-receptor antagonist phentolamine, or agonist phenylephrine, did not significantly change the hormone's effect. Addition of dibutyryl-cAMP or aminophylline [a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor] to the incubation mixture together with epinephrine caused further enzyme inhibitism reaching 65.6% and 63.7%, respectively, compared to 49% inhibition caused by epinephrine alone under the same conditions. Dibutyryl-cAMP alone also inhibited PAP activity [51%]. The results suggested that epinephrine affects human hepatocyte PAP activity through beta- adrenoceptor activation and cAMP is involved in the mechanism by which PAP activity is altered