ABSTRACT
Microalgae are attracting attention as a next-generation alternative source of protein and essential fatty acids that do not consume large amounts of water or land. Chaetoceros gracilis (C. gracilis)-a marine microalga-is rich in proteins, fucoxanthin, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Growing evidence indicates that dietary fucoxanthin and EPA have beneficial effects in humans. However, none of these studies have shown that dietary C. gracilis has beneficial effects in mammals. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary C. gracilis on lipid abnormalities in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-sucrose cholesterol-containing diet. Dried C. gracilis was added to the control diet at a final dose of 2 or 5% (w/w). After four weeks, the soleus muscle weights were found to be dose-responsive to C. gracilis and showed a tendency to increase. The hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by C. gracilis feeding compared to those in the control group. The activities of FAS and G6PDH, which are related to fatty acid de novo synthesis, were found to be dose-responsive to C. gracilis and tended to decrease. The hepatic glycerol content was also significantly decreased by C. gracilis feeding, and the serum HDL cholesterol levels were significantly increased, whereas the serum levels of cholesterol absorption markers (i.e., campesterol and ß-sitosterol) and the hepatic mRNA levels of Scarb1 were significantly decreased. Water-soluble metabolite analysis showed that the muscular contents of several amino acids, including leucine, were significantly increased by C. gracilis feeding. The tendency toward an increase in the weight of the soleus muscle as a result of C. gracilis feeding may be due to the enhancement of muscle protein synthesis centered on leucine. Collectively, these results show that the oral administration of C. gracilis alleviates hepatic lipid accumulation in rats fed a high-sucrose and cholesterol-containing diet, indicating the potential use of C. gracilis as a food resource.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether glyburide inhibits bone destruction caused by traumatic occlusion in a rat occlusal trauma model. BACKGROUND: Excessive mechanical stress, such as traumatic occlusion, induces expression of IL-1ß and may be involved in bone resorption. NLRP3 inflammasomes have been linked to IL-1ß expression, but it is currently unclear whether glyburide, the inhibiter of NLRP3 inflammasome, suppresses occlusal trauma in rats. METHODS: Male SD rats aged 7 weeks were used. In the trauma group, the occlusal surface of the maxillary first right molar was raised by attaching a metal wire to apply occlusal trauma to the mandibular first right molar. In the trauma + glyburide group, the NLRP3 inhibitor glyburide was administered orally every 24 hours from 1 day before induction of occlusal trauma. Rats were euthanized after 5 or 10 days, and the maxillary first molars were harvested with the adjacent tissues for histopathological investigation. Immunohistochemical expression of IL-1ß, NLRP3, and RANKL was also assessed. RESULTS: On day 5, bone resorption was significantly greater in the trauma group compared with the control group or the trauma + glyburide group, and there were significantly higher numbers of osteoclasts and cells positive for IL-1ß, NLRP3, and RANKL in the trauma group. CONCLUSION: In this study, glyburide inhibits bone resorption by traumatic occlusion in rats. It suggests that the NLRP3/IL-1ß pathway might be associated with bone resorption induced by traumatic occlusion.
