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Activated endothelial, immune, and cancer cells prefer glycolysis to obtain energy for their proliferation and migration. Therefore, the blocking of glycolysis can be a promising strategy against cancer and autoimmune disease progression.... more
Activated endothelial, immune, and cancer cells prefer glycolysis to obtain energy for their proliferation and migration. Therefore, the blocking of glycolysis can be a promising strategy against cancer and autoimmune disease progression. Inactivation of the glycolytic enzyme PFKFB3 (6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase) suppresses glycolysis level and contributes to decreased proliferation and migration of cancer (tumorigenesis) and endothelial (angiogenesis) cells. Recently, several glycolysis inhibitors have been developed, among them (E)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-3-(quinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (PFK15) that is considered as one of the most promising. It is known that PFK15 decreases glucose uptake into the endothelial cells and efficiently blocks pathological angiogenesis. However, no study has described sufficiently PFK15 synthesis enabling its general availability. In this paper we provide all necessary details for PFK15 preparation and its advanced characterization. On...
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Research Interests: Biology, Medicine, Female, Pubmed, Animals, and 5 moreHormones, Oviposition, Quail, Endocrine System, and Weightlessness
Experimental and clinical studies have shown alterations in activity of systems responsible for neuroendocrine stress response in obese individuals. Therefore we investigated the effect of palatable normocaloric liquid nutrition... more
Experimental and clinical studies have shown alterations in activity of systems responsible for neuroendocrine stress response in obese individuals. Therefore we investigated the effect of palatable normocaloric liquid nutrition (Fresubin) on alterations in activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in male Wistar rats of different developmental stages. Control rats (CON) received standard pellet chow all the time from weaning (21st day of age) to 150 days. Fresubin was administered throughout the experiment (LN), only in juvenility (from 21st to 90th day of age; LNJ) or only in adulthood (from 90th to 150th day of age; LNA). Body weight and energy intake were periodically monitored. Adrenal gland and fat tissue weight and plasma corticosterone levels (CORT) was determined after sacrification. Fresubin intake induced obesity in LN and LNA rats. In LN and LNA rats were observed elevated serum CORT levels, but only in LN rats with significant twofold increase compared to LNJ rats. However, the weight of adrenal glands did not differ between LN, LNJ and LNA experimental groups. Based on our results, we suggest, that obesity induced by Fresubin in LN and LNA rats is accompanied by increased HPA activity represented by elevated plasma CORT levels in these rats.
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... Authors: Decuypere, Eddy × Buyse, Johan Rahimi, G Zeman, M. ... KULeuven - CWIS, Copyright © Katholieke Universiteit Leuven DSpace Software Copyright © 2002-2005 MIT and Hewlett-Packard - Feedback reacties op de inhoud: DOC |... more
... Authors: Decuypere, Eddy × Buyse, Johan Rahimi, G Zeman, M. ... KULeuven - CWIS, Copyright © Katholieke Universiteit Leuven DSpace Software Copyright © 2002-2005 MIT and Hewlett-Packard - Feedback reacties op de inhoud: DOC | Realisatie: @mire NV | Disclaimer.
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Testosterone concentrations in the seminal plasma of cocks ranged from 0.46 to 5.05 ng/ml and were substantially lower than in blood plasma. No significant variation was noted in seminal plasma testosterone concentrations during the light... more
Testosterone concentrations in the seminal plasma of cocks ranged from 0.46 to 5.05 ng/ml and were substantially lower than in blood plasma. No significant variation was noted in seminal plasma testosterone concentrations during the light phase of the day, whereas the concentration in blood declined over this period. Spermatozoal concentration and seminal testosterone decreased in the third sample of the semen collected sequentially at 3 h intervals. Testosterone concentrations in seminal plasma (1.57 +/- 0.17 ng/ml) and in the semen from the ductus deferens (1.34 +/- 0.24 ng/ml) were not significantly different.
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In rodents, increased angiotensin 2 (Ang2) during pregnancy increases blood pressure and decreases salt sensitivity in the offspring. To explore the underlying mechanisms, this study evaluated the effects of prenatal Ang2 exposure on the... more
In rodents, increased angiotensin 2 (Ang2) during pregnancy increases blood pressure and decreases salt sensitivity in the offspring. To explore the underlying mechanisms, this study evaluated the effects of prenatal Ang2 exposure on the activity of renal Na,K-ATPase, which is one of the main systems that maintains sodium ion homeostasis in an organism. Moreover, this study also investigated the impact of a higher-salt diet on the enzyme activity in the offspring in a sex-dependent manner. Pregnant Wistar rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps that continuously released Ang2 (2 μg/kg/h) for 2 weeks. Male and female offspring of treated and control females were allocated to groups fed with normal or high-salt diets. In the offspring prenatally treated with Ang2, a significant Vmax increase (23 - 36%) was observed in females fed with both a normal and high-salt diet. In addition, a significant increase in Km (20 - 26%) was also observed in the female groups, compared to respective...
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Artificial light at night (ALAN) is considered an environmental risk factor that can interfere with the circadian control of the endocrine system and metabolism. We studied the impact of ALAN during pregnancy on the hormonal and... more
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is considered an environmental risk factor that can interfere with the circadian control of the endocrine system and metabolism. We studied the impact of ALAN during pregnancy on the hormonal and biochemical parameters in rat pups at postnatal (P) days P3, P10, and P20. Control dams (CTRL) were kept in a standard light-dark regime, and ALAN dams were exposed to dim ALAN (<2 lx) during the whole pregnancy. A plasma melatonin rhythm was found in all CTRL groups, whereas in ALAN pups, melatonin was not rhythmic at P3, and its amplitude was lowered at P10; no differences were found between groups at P20. Plasma corticosterone was rhythmic at P20 in both groups, with decreased mesor in ALAN pups. Plasma thyroid hormones exhibited an inconsistent developmental pattern, and vasopressin levels were suppressed at the beginning of the dark phase at P20 in ALAN compared to CTRL. Glucose and cholesterol showed significant daily rhythms in CTRL but not in ALAN...
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Aims: Our study addresses underlying mechanisms of disruption of the circadian timing system by low-intensity artificial light at night (ALAN), which is a growing global problem, associated with serious health consequences. Methods: Rats... more
Aims: Our study addresses underlying mechanisms of disruption of the circadian timing system by low-intensity artificial light at night (ALAN), which is a growing global problem, associated with serious health consequences. Methods: Rats were exposed to low-intensity (∼2 lx) ALAN for 2 weeks. Using in situ hybridization, we assessed 24-h profiles of clock and clock-controlled genes in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and other hypothalamic regions, which receive input from the master clock. Moreover, we measured the daily rhythms of hormones within the main neuroendocrine axes as well as the detailed daily pattern of feeding and drinking behavior in metabolic cages. Results: ALAN strongly suppressed the molecular clockwork in the SCN, as indicated by the suppressed rhythmicity in the clock (Per1, Per2, and Nr1d1) and clock output (arginine vasopressin) genes. ALAN disturbed rhythmic Per1 expression in the paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, which convey the circadia...
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The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the natural antioxidant melatonin (MEL) and the synthetic antioxidant stobadine (STO) could reduce the incidence of maternal and embryofoetal toxicity in rats due to... more
The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the natural antioxidant melatonin (MEL) and the synthetic antioxidant stobadine (STO) could reduce the incidence of maternal and embryofoetal toxicity in rats due to intrauterine hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia was induced pharmacologically by the administration of the anticonvulsant phenytoin (PHT) during the entire period of pregnancy. PHT disturbed the normal course of pregnancy, affected reproductive parameters and increased the incidence of skeletal anomalies. MEL did not protect the PHT-induced development toxicity in rat. On the other hand, STO partially prevented PHT-induced reduction of foetal and placental weights. Administration of STO also decreased the frequency of pre- and post-implantation loss and resorptions in the PHT group. We concluded that pretreatment of pregnant rats with STO prevented to a certain extent reproductive and foetal development alterations caused by chronic intrauterine hypoxia.
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0SCOPUS: ed.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
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The paper deals with oportunity of detecting pre-hypertenzion:worldwide data on blood pressure overswinging.
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miRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Their biosynthesis results in the formation of duplex consisting of a leading and a passenger strand of mature miRNA. The leading strand exhibits... more
miRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Their biosynthesis results in the formation of duplex consisting of a leading and a passenger strand of mature miRNA. The leading strand exhibits the main activity but recent findings indicate a certain role of the passenger strand as well. Deregulated levels of miRNA were found in many types of cancers including colorectal cancer. miR-21 and miR-16 were indicated as possible markers of colorectal cancer, however, small attention to gender differences in their expression was paid so far. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the expression of miR-21-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-16-5p and miR-16-3p in human colorectal cancer tissue and compare it to the adjacent tissues taken during surgery in men and women separately. Our results showed an up-regulation of all measured miRNAs in tumor tissue compared to adjacent tissues. As expected, tumors and adjacent tissues exhibited a significantly hig...
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1. N-acetyltransferase was present in pineal glands of 14-day-old chick embryos though no rhythm either in LL, DD or LD 12:12 was observed in this age. 2. Daily rhythm in pineal NAT activity was found in 18-day-old embryos incubated under... more
1. N-acetyltransferase was present in pineal glands of 14-day-old chick embryos though no rhythm either in LL, DD or LD 12:12 was observed in this age. 2. Daily rhythm in pineal NAT activity was found in 18-day-old embryos incubated under LD 12:12 and LD 16:8 but no NAT rhythm was detected in DD or LL. 3. NAT rhythm persists for 2 days in constant darkness and it may be circadian in nature. 4. Presence of melatonin (85 +/- 8 pg/mg tissue) was detected in pineals of 18-day-old chick embryos.
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To obtain an animal model for studying the role of the GH receptor (GHR) in growth and development, we analyzed a sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chicken strain (Leghorn) which exhibits phenotype similarities with a human genetic growth disorder,... more
To obtain an animal model for studying the role of the GH receptor (GHR) in growth and development, we analyzed a sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chicken strain (Leghorn) which exhibits phenotype similarities with a human genetic growth disorder, an autosomal recessive GH resistance condition (Laron dwarfism). Having previously demonstrated the responsibility of the human GHR gene in the Laron phenotype, we focused our analysis on the corresponding gene in SLD chickens. Sequencing of the whole coding region of the chicken GHR cDNA identified a G-to-T transversion segregating with the SLD phenotype and generating an isoleucine instead of a serine at position 199 within a highly conserved region close to the junction between the extracellular and transmembrane domains. This defect involves the last invariant amino acid of the WS-like motif (amino acid sequence WSXWS) common to all members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. Transfection of a mutated GHR cDNA containing this mutation into eukaryotic cells led to the synthesis of a receptor protein that displayed impaired plasma membrane expression and binding activity. These data define the molecular basis for the SLD phenotype and identify this strain as an interesting model for studying Laron dwarfism in humans; this animal model may also represent a system in which therapeutic strategies to promote growth can be evaluated. Finally, the nature of the molecular defect identified provides direct evidence for the functional importance of the WS motif in GHRs and related receptors.
Research Interests: Genetics, Biology, Medicine, Molecular endocrinology, Biological Sciences, and 15 moreDNA, Molecular, Growth Hormone, Cell line, Humans, Female, Animals, Cytokine, In Vivo, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Dwarfism, Chickens, Growth Hormone Receptor, Amino Acid Sequence, and Medical and Health Sciences
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Aim: This study was performed to examine thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) secretion and regulation in rat heart.Methods: Expression of prepro‐TRH gene in left atrium and left ventricle was studied by RT‐PCR. TRH secretion from slices... more
Aim: This study was performed to examine thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) secretion and regulation in rat heart.Methods: Expression of prepro‐TRH gene in left atrium and left ventricle was studied by RT‐PCR. TRH secretion from slices of left auricle and left ventricle in response to cell swelling (induced by hypotonic medium or ethanol in isosmotic medium), angiotensin II and losartan and their combinations was studied.Results: RT‐PCR revealed two times higher prepro‐TRH expression in left auricle than left ventricle. In transgenic rats with extra copy of mouse renin gene a marked increase of prepro‐TRH expression in the heart was noted but the relative difference between left atrium and left ventricle persisted. The swelling stimulated TRH release from both left auricle and left ventricle and this stimulation could not be inhibited by bumetanide. Angiotensin II (10 nmol L−1) added into medium significantly decreased basal secretion of TRH. The inhibiting effect of Angiotensin...
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Melatonin is released by the pineal gland and can modulate cardiovascular system function via the G protein-coupled melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2. Most vessels are surrounded by perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which affects their... more
Melatonin is released by the pineal gland and can modulate cardiovascular system function via the G protein-coupled melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2. Most vessels are surrounded by perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which affects their contractility. The aim of our study was to evaluate mRNA and protein expression of MT1 and MT2 in the mesenteric artery (MA) and associated PVAT of male rats by RT-PCR and Western blot. Receptor localization was further studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. Effects of melatonin on neurogenic contractions were explored in isolated superior MA ex vivo by measurement of isometric contractile tension. MT1, but not MT2, was present in MA, and MT1 was localized mainly in vascular smooth muscle. Moreover, we proved the presence of MT1, but not MT2 receptors, in MA-associated PVAT. In isolated superior MA with intact PVAT, neuro-adrenergic contractile responses were significantly smaller when compared to arteries with removed PVAT. Pre-treatment with mela...
Research Interests: Endocrinology, Chemistry, Medicine, Melatonin, Adipose tissue, and 10 moreInternal Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Receptor, Mesenteric Arteries, Neurosciences, Biochemistry and cell biology, Vascular Smooth Muscle, Contractility, melatonin receptor gene, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
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Research Interests: Physiology, Physical Activity, Calcium, Lipids, Phosphorus, and 15 moreOntogeny, Age, Blood Glucose, Animals, Lipid metabolism, Alkaline phosphatase, Protein Metabolism, Passeriformes, Creatinine, Blood Proteins, Biochemistry and cell biology, European Starling, Total protein, creatine kinase activity, and Sturnus vulgaris
Research Interests: Physiology, Growth, Testosterone, Female, Animals, and 15 moreMale, Maternal effects, Thyroxine, Selection, Japanese Quail, Divergent Selection, Environmental Conditions, Growth rate, Age Factors, Body Weight, Maternal Effect, Radioimmunoassay, Biochemistry and cell biology, Thyroid hormone, and Egg yolk
We studied the effects of adjuvant arthritis (AA) on the endocrine circadian rhythms of plasma prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and melatonin and of... more
We studied the effects of adjuvant arthritis (AA) on the endocrine circadian rhythms of plasma prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and melatonin and of pituitary PRL and GH mRNA in male Long Evans rats. Groups of control and AA rats (studied 23 days after AA induction) that were housed under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle (light on at 06:00 h) were killed at 4 h intervals starting at 14:00 h. Cosinor analysis revealed a significant 12 h rhythm in PRL and PRL mRNA (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001) in controls with peaks at 14:00 h and 02:00 h, respectively. The peak at 02:00 h was abolished in the AA group resulting in a significant 24 h rhythm in parallel with that of PRL (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) and PRL mRNA (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001). Growth hormone showed no rhythm, but a significant rhythm of GH mRNA was present in both groups (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001). Insulin-like growth factor-1 showed a 24 h rhythm in control but not in AA rats. The mean values of GH, GH mRNA, and IGF-1 were significantly reduced in AA. Luteinizing hormone displayed a significant 24 h rhythm (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) peaking in the dark period in the control but not AA group. Testosterone showed in phase temporal changes of LH levels with AA abolishing the 02:00 h peak. Melatonin exhibited a significant 24 h rhythm in control (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001) and AA (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) rats with maximum levels during the dark phase; the mesor value was higher in the AA males. These results demonstrate that AA interferes with the rhythms of all the studied hormones except the non-24 h (arrhythmic) GH secretion pattern and the rhythm in melatonin. The persistence of a distinct melatonin rhythm in AA suggests the observed disturbances of hormonal rhythms in this condition do not occur at the level of the pineal gland.
Research Interests: Chronobiology, Gene expression, Biological Sciences, DNA, Melatonin, and 15 moreGrowth Hormone, Prolactin, Insulin, Circadian Rhythm, Animals, Hormones, Male, Rat, Photoperiod, Base Sequence, Luteinizing Hormone, Adjuvant Arthritis, Insulin Like Growth Factor, acute phase, and Medical and Health Sciences
Melatonin is involved in blood pressure modulation in rats and humans. Some of the effects of melatonin are presumably mediated via two G-protein-coupled receptors (MT(1) and MT(2)), but the distribution of MT(1) and MT(2) in the... more
Melatonin is involved in blood pressure modulation in rats and humans. Some of the effects of melatonin are presumably mediated via two G-protein-coupled receptors (MT(1) and MT(2)), but the distribution of MT(1) and MT(2) in the cardiovascular system remains to be explored comprehensively. We investigated the expression of both the receptors in the rat aorta on mRNA level by RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR as well as on protein level via western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. We verified MT(1) mRNA expression in the rat aorta and demonstrated the absence of MT(2) mRNA in this vessel type. MT(1) receptors were confirmed also at the protein level, and surprisingly they were preferentially localized to the tunica adventitia. Since no daily changes in MT(1) mRNA expression were detected, we suppose that the circadian changes in circulating melatonin concentrations are sufficient to mediate circadian effects of melatonin in the aorta. The localization of MT(1) in the tunica adventitia suggests an influence of melatonin on vasa vasorum function and signal transduction in the aorta wall.
Research Interests: Real-time RT-PCR, Signal Transduction, Melatonin, Molecular and cellular biology, Humans, and 14 moreCellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Blood Pressure, Animals, Male, mRna expression levels, Cardiovascular system, Rats, Western blot, Wistar Rats, Aorta, Neurosciences, Biochemistry and cell biology, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Research Interests: Signal Transduction, Oxytocin, Hypertension, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Blood Pressure, and 15 moreCircadian Rhythm, Animals, Heart rate, Oscillations, Paraventricular Nucleus, Rats, Autoradiography, SIGNAL PEPTIDE, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Neurosciences, Biochemistry and cell biology, Gene Expression Regulation, Motor activity, Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, and Arginine Vasopressin
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The pineal cells of chick embryos incubated in vitro exhibited a daily rhythm of melatonin synthesis under a 12:12 light:dark (LD) cycle at the embryonic days 16 and 19. In order to elucidate whether cyclic adenosine monophosphate... more
The pineal cells of chick embryos incubated in vitro exhibited a daily rhythm of melatonin synthesis under a 12:12 light:dark (LD) cycle at the embryonic days 16 and 19. In order to elucidate whether cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)--a component of the melatonin generating system--is already at work in the embryonic period, we measured the effects of forskolin and isobuthylmethylxantine (IBMX) on melatonin production, cAMP efflux and accumulation. Forskolin (after 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 90 min of administration) and IBMX (6 h), when applied during the light phase of LD cycle, stimulated melatonin production and cAMP efflux and accumulation during the embryonic period (at days 16 and 19 fo development). Our results suggest that the biochemical pathway involving cAMP, which controls melatonin production in the postnatal period, is developed before hatching and already on embryonic day 19 works in a way similar to that in post-hatched chicks. Differences in response to cAMP stimulation between 16- and 19-day-old pinealocytes seem to be mostly quantitative.