Effect of alendronate or 8-prenylnaringenin applied as a single therapy or in combination with vibration on muscle structure and bone healing in ovariectomized rats.

Bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN), phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) and the whole body vibration exert a favorable effect on osteoporotic bone. However, the impact of these treatments and the combination of pharmacological therapies with biomechanical stimulation on muscle and bone has not yet been explored in detail. The effect of ALN and 8-PN and their combination with the vibration (Vib) on skeletal muscle and bone healing was investigated in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Three-month old rats were Ovx (n = 78), or left intact (Non-Ovx; n = 12). Five weeks after Ovx, all rats were treated according to the group assignment (n = 12/13): 1) Non-Ovx; 2) Ovx; 3) Ovx + Vib; 4) Ovx + ALN; 5) Ovx + ALN + Vib; 6): Ovx + 8-PN; 7) Ovx + 8-PN + Vib. Treatments with ALN (0.58 mg/kg BW, in food), 8-PN (1.77 mg/kg BW, daily s.c. injections) and/or with vertical vibration (0.5 mm, 35 Hz, 1 g, 15 min, 2×/day, 5×/week) were conducted for ten weeks. Nine weeks after Ovx, all rats underwent bilateral tibia osteotomy with plate osteosynthesis and were sacrificed six weeks later. Vibration increased fiber size and capillary density in muscle, enlarged callus area and width, and decreased callus density in tibia, and elevated alkaline phosphatase in serum. ALN and ALN + Vib enhanced capillarization and lactate dehydrogenase activity in muscle. In tibia, ALN slowed bone healing, ALN + Vib increased callus width and density, enhanced callus formation rate and expression of osteogenic genes. 8-PN and 8-PN + Vib decreased fiber size and increased capillary density in muscle; callus density and cortical width were reduced in tibia. Vibration worsened 8-PN effect on bone healing decreasing the callus width and area. Our data suggest that Vib, ALN, 8-PN, or 8-PN + Vib do not appear to aid bone healing. ALN + Vib improved bone healing; however application is questionable since single treatments impaired bone healing. Muscle responds to the anti-osteoporosis treatments and should be included in the evaluation of the drugs.

Effect of Strontium Ranelate on the Muscle and Vertebrae of Ovariectomized Rats.

Osteoporosis is often accompanied by sarcopenia. The effect of strontium ranelate (SR) on muscle tissue has not been investigated sufficiently. In this study, the effect of different SR treatments on muscle was studied. Additionally, the lumbar vertebrae were analyzed. Three-month-old female rats were divided into five groups (n = 12): Group 1: untreated (NON-OVX); Group 2: ovariectomized and left untreated (OVX); Group 3: SR after OVX until the study ended (13 weeks, SR prophylaxis and therapy = pr+th); Group 4: OVX and SR for 8 weeks (SR prophylaxis = pr); Group 5: SR for 5 weeks from the 8 week after OVX (SR therapy = SR th). SR was applied in food (630 mg/kg body weight). The size of muscle fibers, capillary density, metabolic enzymes, and mRNA expression were assessed in soleus, gastrocnemius, and longissimus muscles. The vertebral bodies underwent micro-CT, biomechanical, and ashing analyses. In general, SR did not alter the muscle histological parameters. The changes in fiber size and capillary ratio were related to the body weight. Myostatin mRNA was decreased in Sr pr+th; protein expression was not changed. SR th led to increase in mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf-B). In lumbar spine, SR pr+th enhanced biomechanical properties, bone mineral density, trabecular area, density, and thickness and cortical density. The reduced calcium/phosphate ratio in the SR pr+th group indicates the replacement of calcium by strontium ions. SR has no adverse effects on muscle tissue and it shows a favorable time-dependent effect on vertebrae. A functional analysis of muscles could verify these findings.

Adenine nucleotide concentrations and glycolytic enzyme activities in longissimus muscle samples of different pig genotypes collected before and after slaughter.

Longissimus muscle samples from the pig genotypes Duroc (Du), Pietrain (MHS homozygote negative (PiNN), positive (PiPP)) and a Duroc-Pietrain crossbreed (DuPi) were analyzed. The PiPP samples showed a faster pH drop and higher electrical conductivity, drip loss and lightness values. Before slaughter the concentrations of the adenine nucleotides were comparable between the genotypes, but 40 min after slaughter (p.m.) the ATP concentrations decreased and IMP increased, to a higher extent in the PiPP pigs. The nucleotide values of the 12 h p.m. samples were again comparable. Activities of glycogen phosporylase (GP), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were nearly similar before slaughter. Forty minutes after slaughter the LDH activities increased in all pigs and the PFK activities in all genotypes but not in the PiPP. GP results were rather inconsistent indicating an earlier activation of this enzyme. The study showed that the reduced meat quality in the PiPP pigs is accompanied with rapid ATP degradation and accelerated enzyme activation.

Specific detection of small ruminant lentiviral nucleic acid sequences located in the proviral long terminal repeat and leader-gag regions using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of proviral nucleic acid sequences of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) in blood samples was developed and evaluated. Priming oligonucleotides were designed on the highly conserved 5' untranslated leader-gag region while those on the long terminal repeat (LTR) assay were derived from literature. DNA was extracted from the buffycoat interlayer of centrifuged blood samples. Real-time PCR was performed by means of LightCycler technology (Roche Applied Science) using melting temperature analysis (SYBR Green I) for detection. Results were compared with those of serology using samples from Dutch sheep and goat flocks with known SRLV statuses, with sequential samples from a natural transmission experiment and samples from different regions in Norway, France, Spain and Italy. Real-time PCR testing, especially the application of oligonucleotides for priming the leader-gag region appeared promising in detecting SRLV specific proviral DNA in blood samples from both sheep and goats.

[Forms of so-called crytorchism. Studies on 579 patients]. / Die Formen des sogenannten Kryptorchismus Untersuchungen an 579 Patienten

In a material of 579 patients the incidence of the different forms of cryptorchism is investigated. The findings reveal retractile testes in 16.4%, ectopic testes in 23.1%, inguinal retentions in 49.5%, abdominal retentions in 2.3% secondary cryptorchism in 3.5%, and monorchism and anorchism in 4.9%. These results are compared with those of other authors.