Ganoderma sessile is a fast polysaccharide producer among Ganoderma species.

The selection of fast-growing and high-yield-producing strains is required to satisfy the market demand on fungal food supplements. To that aim, three strains deposited in our collection as G. lucidum and G. oregonense were screened for polysaccharide production and biomass yield. Ganoderma strains deposited as G. lucidum were identified as G. sessile and G. lingzhi by nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) phylogenies. The identity of G. oregonense was confirmed by molecular phylogeny and biogeography. Additionally, mycelial antagonism confirmed species differentiation, and strains were further distinguished by morphology and protein profiles. Biomass and polysaccharide yields of G. sessile were clearly different from those of G. lingzhi and G. oregonense in both liquid culture and solid-state fermentation. The maximum polysaccharide yield (4.52 ± 0.83 g L-1) for G. sessile was obtained from submerged cultures at day 9. G. sessile also achieved the highest linear growth in lignocellulosic solid substrates. Consequently, basidiomata were successfully obtained by solid-state fermentation in polypropylene bags, whereas G. lingzhi and G. oregonense mushrooms were not produced in artificial solid substrates. G. sessile, a species frequently collected in America, showed to be a promising polysaccharide producer for the manufacture of dietary supplements.

Neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects in rats offspring co-exposed to arsenic and fluoride during development.

Arsenic (iAs) and fluoride (F) are ubiquitous in the environment. All over the world, in many countries, thousands of people are suffering from the toxic effects of arsenicals ad fluorides. These two elements are recognized worldwide as the most serious inorganic contaminants in drinking water. When two different types of toxicants are simultaneously going inside the human body they may function independently or can act as synergistic or antagonistic to one another. Although there have been reports in literature of individual toxicity of iAs and F, however, not much is known about the effects following the combined exposure to the toxicants above mentioned. In this work, we investigated the effect of the co-exposure to low levels of iAs/F through drinking water during pregnancy and lactation on central nervous system functionality in the exposed rats offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to one of these solutions: 0.05 mg/L iAs and 5 mg/L F (Concentration A) or 0.10 mg/L iAs and 10 mg/L F (Concentration B) from gestational day 0 up to post-gestational day 21. Sensory-motor reflexes a Functional Observational Battery and the locomotor activity in an open field were assessed in offspring. Additionally, the transaminases, acethylcholinesterase and catalase levels in the striatum were determined to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms involved in locomotor and neurobehavioral disorders. The results showed that iAs/F exposition during development produces a delay reach the maturity of sensorimotor reflexes. A decrease in the nociceptive reflex response, and increase in the locomotor activity in adult rats offspring were observed. The increase in oxidative stress, the inhibition of transaminases enzymes and the inhibition of AChE in the striatum may partially regulate all the neurobehavioral disorders observed.

Locomotor activity and sensory-motor developmental alterations in rat offspring exposed to arsenic prenatally and via lactation.

Arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic naturally occurring contaminants in the environment. The major source of human exposure to inorganic As (iAs) is through contaminated drinking water. Although both genotoxicity and carcinogenicity derived from this metalloid have been thoroughly studied, the effects of iAs on the development and function of the central nervous system (CNS) have received less attention and only a few studies have focused on neurobehavioral effects. Thus, in order to characterize developmental and behavioral alterations induced by iAs exposure, pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to 0.05 and 0.10 mg/L iAs through drinking water during gestation and lactation. Sensory-motor reflexes in each pup were analyzed and the postnatal day when righting reflex, cliff aversion and negative geotaxis were recorded. Functional Observational Battery (FOB) and locomotor activity in an open field were assessed in 90-day-old offspring. Results show that rats exposed to low iAs concentrations through drinking water during early development evidence a delay in the development of sensory-motor reflexes. Both FOB procedure and open-field tests showed a decrease in locomotor activity in adult rats. This study reveals that exposure to the above-mentioned iAs concentrations produces dysfunction in the CNS mechanisms whose role is to regulate motor and sensory development and locomotor activity.