T-2 toxin and its metabolite HT-2 toxin are one of the most toxic mycotoxins of type A-trichothecenes, which are produced mainly by Fusarium species. Therefore, study of Fusarium toxins T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin is an essential issue because they could also play role in failures of reproductive functions as well as endocrine system of domestic animals. Assessment of the effect of A-trichothecene mycotoxin HT-2 toxin alone or combined with insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), leptin and ghrelin on estradiol secretion by rabbit ovarian fragments in vitro was done. Rabbit ovarian fragments were incubated without (control group) or with HT-2 toxin, or its combinations with IGF-I, leptin and ghrelin at various concentrations for 24 h. Secretion of 17β-estradiol was determined by ELISA. Firstly, HT-2 toxin at the doses 10 and 100 ng.ml-1, but not at 1 ng.ml-1 decreased 17β-estradiol secretion by ovarian fragments. Secondly, 17β-estradiol secretion was not affected by HT-2 toxin exposure combined with growth factor IGF-I, metabolic hormones leptin and ghrelin. In conclusion, HT-2 toxin has potent direct dose-dependent effects on ovarian steroidogenesis in rabbits. These direct effects of HT-2 mycotoxin on ovarian steroidogenesis could impact negatively on the reproductive performance of rabbits., A. Kolesarova, N. Maruniakova, A. Kadasi, M. Halenar, M. Marak, A. V. Sirotkin., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection influences both short and long term outcomes in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different induction immunosuppression regimens on CMV specific T cell response in patients with already established CMV immunity. In 24 seropositive living donor kidney recipients, the frequency of CMV specific T cells was determined by ELISPOT (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot) assay prior and 6 months after transplantation. Recipients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with immediate-early (IE1) and phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) CMV-derived peptide pools and the number of cells producing interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was assessed. Patients received quadruple immunosuppression based either on depletive rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) or non-depletive basiliximab induction and tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil/steroids. Patients with rATG induction received valgancyclovir prophylaxis. No effects of different induction agents on CMV specific T cell immunity were found at sixth month after kidney transplantation. There were no associations among dialysis vintage, pretransplant CMV specific T cell immunity, and later CMV DNAemia. Similarly, no effect of CMV prophylaxis on CMV specific T cell immunity was revealed. This study shows no effect of posttransplant immunosuppression on CMV specific T cell immunity in living donor kidney transplant recipients with CMV immunity already established, regardless of lymphocyte depletion and CMV prophylaxis., L. Stranavová, P. Hrubá, E. Girmanová, I. Tycová, A. Slavčev, J. Fronek, J. Slatinská, P. Reinke, H.-D. Volk, O. Viklický., and Seznam literatury
Fat-enriched diet is strongly associated with cataract development. Laurus nobilis shows antioxidant activity. Herein we evaluated the effect of Laurus nobilis oral administration on the blood and lenses antioxidant activity in rabbits under fat-enriched diet. Sixty rabbits divided into 4 groups were used. One group represented the control (N-CTR). The second group (P-CTR) fed a diet supplemented with 2.5 % of pig fat; the third group (EXP1) received a diet supplemented with 2.5 % of pig fat and 1 g/kg of dried-bay leaves; the fourth group (EXP2) was treated with dried-bay leaves at the rate of 1 g/kg of feed. At baseline and at the end of the study (56 days) the following blood parameters were determined: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), total phenols, superoxide dismutase (SOD), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACpca), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), retinol and alfa-tocopherol. At the end of the follow-up, the eyes were enucleated and the antioxidant profile, such as total antioxidant activity (TAC), TBARS, retinol and alfa-tocopherol of lenses was evaluated. Plasma ROMs and TBARS levels were statistically lower in the groups receiving bay leaves integration. A significant increase of plasma retinol, FRAP and ORACpca levels was found in EXP1 and EXP2 groups, whereas plasma alfa-tocopherol resulted statistically higher only in EXP2 group. Bay leaves supplementation enhanced TAC, retinol and alfa-tocopherol in rabbit lens, particularly in EXP2 group; whereas lenses TBARS levels significantly decreased in both treated groups. These findings demonstrate that Laurus nobilis oral administration exerts a protective effect on the risk of cataract development in rabbits under fat-enriched diet., D. Casamassima, F. Chiosi, F. Vizzarri, M. Palazzo, C. Costagliola., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In vitro models serve as a tool for studies of steatosis. Palmitic and oleic acids can induce steatosis in cultured hepatocytes. The aim of our study was to verify steatogenic and cytotoxic effects of palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OA) and their combinations as well as their impact on functional capacity of rat primary hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were exposed to OA or PA (0.125-2 mmol/l) or their combination at ratios of 3:1, 2:1 or 1:1 at the final concentrations of 0.5-1 mmol/l. Both OA and PA caused a dose-dependent increase in triacylglycerol content in hepatocytes. PA was more steatogenic at 0.25 and 0.5 mmol/l while OA at 0.75 and 1 mmol/l. PA exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect associated with ROS production, present markers of apoptosis and necrosis and a decrease in albumin production. OA induced a damage of the cytoplasmic membrane from 1 mM concentration. Mixture of OA and PA induced lower cytotoxicity with less weakened functional capacity than did PA alone. Extent of steatosis was comparable to that after exposure to OA alone. In conclusion, OA or combination of OA with PA is more suitable for simulation of simple steatosis than PA alone., A. Moravcová, Z. Červinková, O. Kučera, V. Mezera, D. Rychtrmoc, H. Lotková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A significant factor in the development of hypertension may be excessive vasoconstriction within the renal medulla. This study therefore investigated the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the regulation of renal medullary and cortical blood perfusion (MBP and CBP, respectively) in both stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar rats. CBP and MBP were measured before and after intra-renal infusion of the SOD inhibitor, diethyldithio-carbamic acid (DETC). Under basal conditions, mean arterial pressure was significantly greater in SHRSP than Wistar rats, but both MBP and heart rate (HR) were significantly lower in SHRSP relative to Wistar rats (P<0.05, n=7 in both groups). Infusion of DETC (2 mg/kg/min) into the cortico-medullary border area of the kidney significantly decreased MBP in the SHRSPs (by 28±3 %, n=7, P<0.05), indicating a greater vasoconstriction within this vascular bed. However, DETC also significantly decreased MBP in Wistar rats to a similar extent (24±4 %, n=7, P<0.05). These results suggest that superoxide anions play a significant role in reducing renal vascular compliance within the renal medulla in both normotensive and hypertensive animals, although the responses are not greater in the hypertensive relative to the control animals., A. F. Ahmeda, M. G. Rae, L. M. Anweigi, M. F. Al Otaibi, A. A. Al-Masri, E. J. Johns., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Taste is important for food intake. The fetus first experiences taste through amniotic fluid, and later via mother’s milk. Early human experience with taste has a key importance for later acceptance of food. Dietary behavior is determined by the interaction of many different factors. The development of the olfactory and taste receptors begins at 7-8 weeks of gestation. An early sensitive period probably exists when flavor preference is established. Sweet taste is preferred in early childhood; this is the reason why children are at increased risk of over-consuming saccharides. Gustatory sensitivity declines with age. The threshold for the perception of each basic taste differs, and is established genetically. In this review, we summarize published data on taste preferences and its development and changes during life., Š. Podzimek, M. Dušková, Z. Broukal, B. Rácz, L. Stárka, J. Dušková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Previous studies have suggested that the Notch signaling pathway plays a very important role in the proliferation and differentiation of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression level of Notch-related signaling molecules in PMVECs in bleomycin (BLM)-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and real-time PCR were used to analyze the differences in protein and mRNA expression levels of Notch-related signaling molecules, i.e. Notch1, Jagged1, Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4), and hairy and enhancer of split homolog 1 (Hes1), between a control group treated with intratracheal instillation of saline and a study group treated with intratracheal instillation of BLM solution. Expression levels of the receptor Notch1 and one of its ligands, Jagged1, were upregulated, while the expression levels of the ligand Dll4 and the target molecule of the Notch signaling pathway, Hes1, were downregulated. The differences in protein and mRNA expression levels between the control and study groups were significant (p<0.001). The Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathway is activated in the pathogenesis of BLM-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis, while the Dll4/Notch1 signaling pathway is inhibited, which inhibits the suppressive effect of Dll4/Notch1 signaling on PMVEC overproliferation, further causing PMVEC dysfunction in cell sprouting and maturation as well as abnormal differentiation of the cell phenotype. Conversely, the downexpression of Hes1 indicates that the Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathway could be a non-canonical Notch signaling pathway independent of Hes1 activation, which differs from the canonical Dll4/Notch1 signaling pathway., Q. Yin, W. Wang, G. Cui, H. Nan, L. Yan, W. Zhang, S. Zhang, J. Wei., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Doctor David J. Webb MD, DSc, FRCP, FRSE, FMedSci, a clinical pharmacologist specialising in the management of cardiovascular disease, is the recipient of The Fourth Tomoh Masaki Award , a bi-annual prize presented on the occasion of the International Conferences on Endothelin to scientists for outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of endothelin research. The Fourth Tomoh Masaki Award was presented to Doctor Webb at the Fifteenth International Conference on Endothelin which was held at Duo Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic, in October 2017. The award was granted to Dr. Webb during the Award Ceremony in Troja Chateau “In Recognition of his Outstanding Contributions to Science and Endothelin Research in Particular”. This article summarises the career and the scientific achievements of David J. Webb viewed by his former student Dr. Neeraj Dhaun, known to everybody as ‘Bean’., N. Dhaun., and Seznam literatury