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The relevance of the heme oxygenase system in alleviating diabetes-related hormonal and metabolic disorders
Dietary Supplementation with Spirulina platensis Modulates the Physiological Status and Bone Quality of Juvenile Ring-Necked Pheasants
This study evaluated the effects of dietary spirulina (Spirulina platensis) supplementation on the physiological status and bone quality of juvenile ring-necked pheasants. A total of 200 one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to a control group fed a basal diet or to an experimental group fed a basal diet supplemented with 15 g of spirulina/kg feed and reared under identical conditions for 42 days. Growth performance, feed intake, the feed conversion ratio, selected carcass traits, meat and bone quality, and biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed. Pheasants receiving spirulina presented significantly greater body weights at four weeks of age. The experimental group also exhibited increased pH values in pectoral and thigh muscles and increased postmortem muscle temperature. Spirulina supplementation significantly improved tibia quality, as reflected by enhanced geometric, structural, and material bone properties. The birds fed spirulina presented increased plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations, whereas those in the control group exhibited increased malondialdehyde levels, indicating increased oxidative stress. In addition, spirulina increased the proportion of lymphocytes and reduced both the proportion and absolute number of monocytes. In conclusion, spirulina supplementation increased tibia bone strength, reduced oxidative stress, and had immunomodulatory effects on juvenile pheasants.
Quercetin as an Anti-Diabetic Agent in Rodents—Is It Worth Testing in Humans?
Quercetin is a biologically active flavonoid compound that exerts numerous beneficial effects in humans and animals, including anti-diabetic activity. Its action has been explored in rodent models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It was revealed that quercetin mitigated diabetes-related hormonal and metabolic disorders and reduced oxidative and inflammatory stress. Its anti-diabetic effects were associated with advantageous changes in the relevant enzymes and signaling molecules. Quercetin positively affected, among others, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose transporter-2, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, glycogen synthase, glycogen synthase kinase-3β, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, silent information regulator-1, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, insulin receptor substrate 1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and protein kinase B. The available data support the conclusion that the action of quercetin was pleiotropic since it alleviates a wide range of diabetes-related disorders. Moreover, no side effects were observed during treatment with quercetin in rodents. Given that human diabetes affects a large part of the population worldwide, the results of animal studies encourage clinical trials to evaluate the potential of quercetin as an adjunct to pharmacological therapies.
Impact of bisphenol A and ethinyloestradiol on sex, body condition and digit ratio of the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus in the mesocosm exposure system
Investigating Sexual Characteristics in Two Frog Species Under Exposure to River Water Polluted with Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are emerging environmental pollutants that are known to the disrsupt hormonal system of many vertebrates. Amphibians, with their aquatic larval stages and high sensitivity to waterborne contaminants, are especially vulnerable to EDC exposure. Despite increasing concerns over EDC pollution, systematic monitoring of these compounds in surface waters remains limited in many regions, including the European Union. This study investigates the effects of water from the Warta River, one of the largest rivers in Central Europe, an urban waterway subjected to significant anthropogenic pressure and known to contain EDCs on body condition, digit ratio, and gonadal development in two brown frog species: the common frog Rana temporaria and the moor frog Rana arvalis. We propose DR as a potential biomarker of endocrine disruption, as it is linked to hormonal impact in the early development of vertebrates. In this study, tadpoles were reared in the semi-open experimental setup with tanks containing river or potable tap water as a control. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were observed in body condition, digit ratio, or gonadal structure, suggesting that EDC concentrations in the river water may not have been high enough to induce detectable effects. However, a consistent relation between DR and sex was observed in both species, underscoring its potential as a biologically meaningful trait. Notably, the potable tap water used as a control exhibited contamination levels comparable to the river water, raising concerns about the efficacy of current water treatment methods and highlighting the challenges of establishing true reference conditions in environmental studies.
Regulatory Effects of Metformin, an Antidiabetic Biguanide Drug, on the Metabolism of Primary Rat Adipocytes
Metformin is a biguanide compound commonly applied in humans with type 2 diabetes. The drug affects different tissues, including fat tissue. The direct influence of metformin on cells of fat tissue, i.e., adipocytes, is poorly elucidated. In the present study, the short-term (4-h) effects of metformin on lipogenesis, glucose transport, lipolysis, and lactate release in primary rat adipocytes were explored. It was demonstrated that metformin reduced insulin-induced lipogenesis and increased glucose transport into adipocytes. The tested compound also decreased lactate release from fat cells. It was shown that metformin substantially limited lipolysis stimulated by epinephrine (adrenergic receptor agonist) and dibutyryl-cAMP (direct activator of protein kinase A). Moreover, metformin decreased the lipolytic process triggered by DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist). In the case of each lipolytic stimulator, the drug evoked a similar inhibitory effect in the presence of 3 and 12 mM glucose. The lipolytic response of adipocytes to epinephrine was also found to be reduced by metformin when glucose was replaced by alanine. It was demonstrated that the tested compound limits the release of both glycerol and fatty acids from fat cells. The results of the present study provided evidence that metformin significantly affects the metabolism of primary rat adipocytes. Its action covers processes related to lipid accumulation and release and occurs after relatively short-term exposure.
Effect of IVM media supplementation with a blend of n6/n3 fatty acids on the quality of bovine oocytes and blastocysts
The Anti-Diabetic Potential of Baicalin: Evidence from Rodent Studies
Baicalin is a biologically active flavonoid compound that benefits the organism in various pathological conditions. Rodent studies have shown that this compound effectively alleviates diabetes-related disturbances in models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Baicalin supplementation limited hyperglycemia and improved insulin sensitivity. The anti-diabetic effects of baicalin covered the main insulin-sensitive tissues, i.e., the skeletal muscle, the adipose tissue, and the liver. In the muscle tissue, baicalin limited lipid accumulation and improved glucose transport. Baicalin therapy was associated with diminished adipose tissue content and increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Hepatic lipid accumulation and glucose output were also decreased as a result of baicalin supplementation. The molecular mechanism of the anti-diabetic action of this compound is pleiotropic and is associated with changes in the expression/action of pivotal enzymes and signaling molecules. Baicalin positively affected, among others, the tissue insulin receptor, glucose transporter, AMP-activated protein kinase, protein kinase B, carnitine palmitoyltransferase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase. Moreover, this compound ameliorated diabetes-related oxidative and inflammatory stress and reduced epigenetic modifications. Importantly, baicalin supplementation at the effective doses did not induce any side effects. Results of rodent studies imply that baicalin may be tested as an anti-diabetic agent in humans.
Distinct dynamics of lipid accumulation by porcine cumulus cells during in vitro maturation with follicular fluid of low and high fatty acid contents
Chemical Interference: A Review on Endocrine Disruptors and Reproductive Communication in Amphibians
ABSTRACTAmphibians are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution, primarily due to their permeable skin and eggs, as well as their habitat preferences. Endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs), prevalent in aquatic environments and soil, pose a significant threat to their survival. While the physiological effects of EDCs on amphibians have been extensively studied, their impact on behavior remains relatively unexplored. This paper reviews the existing literature on the impact of EDCs on the mating behavior of amphibians, including disruptions in acoustic, olfactory, and visual communication. Although it has been shown that amphibian reproduction can be affected by endocrine disruptors, there are still significant research gaps. We performed an extensive review of the literature, which yielded only 27 eligible studies—21 of which tested the effects on mating communication and behavior, and only 6 examined the impact on body coloration. There is a strong need for a deeper understanding of how EDCs, both alone and in combination with other stressors, affect the reproductive behavior of amphibians, as this may have serious implications for the dynamics and survival of entire populations and species.