Optimum Doses and Forms of Selenium Maintaining Reproductive Health via Regulating Homeostasis of Gut Microbiota and Testicular Redox, Inflammation, Cell Proliferation, and Apoptosis in Roosters

BACKGROUND

There is a U-shaped relationship between dietary selenium (Se) ingestion and optimal sperm quality.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the optimal dietary dose and forms of Se for sperm quality of breeder roosters and the relevant mechanisms.

METHODS

In experiment 1, 18-wk-old Jingbai laying breeder roosters were fed a Se-deficient base diet (BD, 0.06 mg Se/kg), or the BD + 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, or 1.0 mg Se/kg for 9 wk. In experiment 2, the roosters were fed the BD or the BD + sodium selenite (SeNa), seleno-yeast (SeY), or Se-nanoparticles (SeNPs) at 0.2 mg Se/kg for 9 wk.

RESULTS

In experiment 1, added dietary 0.2 and 0.3 mg Se/kg led to higher sperm motility and lower sperm mortality than the other groups at weeks 5, 7, and/or 9. Furthermore, added dietary 0.2-0.4 mg Se/kg produced better testicular histology and/or lower testicular 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine than the other groups. Moreover, integrated testicular transcriptomic and cecal microbiomic analysis revealed that inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis-related genes and bacteria were dysregulated by Se deficiency or excess. In experiment 2, compared with SeNa, SeNPs slightly increased sperm motility throughout the experiment, whereas SeNPs slightly reduced sperm mortality compared with SeY at week 9. Both SeY and SeNPs decreased malondialdehyde in the serum than those of SeNa, and SeNPs led to higher glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and thioredoxin reductase activities and GPX1 and B-cell lymphoma 2 protein concentrations in the testis compared with SeY and SeNa.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal dietary Se dose for reproductive health of breeder roosters is 0.25-0.35 mg Se/kg, and SeNPs displayed better effects on reproductive health than SeNa and SeY in laying breeder roosters. The optimal doses and forms of Se maintain reproductive health of roosters associated with regulation intestinal microbiota homeostasis and/or testicular redox balance, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis.

Ameliorating Effects of Leaf Water Extract of Three Aromatic Plant Species on Ozone-Polluted Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Jiangjunyoudou')

Ozone (O₃) is one of the major pollutants in near-surface air. In order to protect sensitive plants from O₃ pollution, many kinds of protectants including synthetic ones, were assessed in previous studies. Although they have certain protective effects, some of them are not environment-friendly. In the present study, leaf water extracts of aromatic plants [Plectranthus hadiensis var. tomentosus (PHT), Pelargonium hortorum (PHB), Tagetes patula (TP)] were compared for mitigating the damages caused by O₃ (150 ppb for 3 days, 8 h day^-1) on snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Jiangjunyoudou'). Our results showed that O₃ fumigation impaired plasma membrane, decreased chlorophyll content, increased contents of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion, inhibited photosynthesis, and caused visible injury. Leaf water extracts of PHT, PHB or TP ameliorated the negative effects of O₃. Among them, extract of PHT showed the greatest potential to alleviate the O₃-caused injury, followed by PHB and TP.

Expression and clinical significance of obesity-associated gene STEAP4 in obese children

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of the obesity-associated gene STEAP4 in obese children. Fifty-three obese children and 33 children with a standard body weight (control) from our hospital were recruited to this study. The expression of STEAP4 mRNA and protein in the adipose tissue were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in order to analyze the relationship between STEAP4 mRNA and protein levels and blood pressure, blood lipid profile, blood glucose levels, and inflammation in obese children. Obese children showed significantly lower levels of STEAP4 mRNA and protein in the adipose tissue compared to the control subjects (P < 0.05). The obese subjects exhibited significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, and a significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, compared to the control subjects (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that STEAP4 expression was negatively correlated with the DBP, SBP, TC, TG, LDL, FPG, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and was positively correlated with the HDL level (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the expression of STEAP4 was significantly downregulated in the adipose tissue of obese children and was closely related to the blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, and inflammation in these patients; therefore, these results could provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of childhood obesity.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells promote pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion

To explore the effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and the possible mechanism involved, ADSCs were cocultured with pancreatic cancer cells, and a cell counting kit (CCK-8) was used to detect the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. ELISA was used to determine the concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in the supernatants. RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in pancreatic cancer cells and ADSCs. An in vitro invasion assay was used to measure invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. SDF-1 was detected in the supernatants of ADSCs, but not in pancreatic cancer cells. Higher CXCR4 mRNA levels were detected in the pancreatic cancer cell lines compared with ADSCs (109.3±10.7 and 97.6±7.6 vs 18.3±1.7, respectively; P<0.01). In addition, conditioned medium from ADSCs promoted the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, significantly downregulated these growth-promoting effects. We conclude that ADSCs can promote the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, which may involve the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.

The impact of iodine excess on thyroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism in rats

Thyroid function ultimately depends on appropriate iodine supply to the gland. There is a complex series of checks and balances that the thyroid uses to control the orderly utilization of iodine for hormone synthesis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the mechanism underlying the effect of iodine excess on thyroid hormone metabolism. Based on the successful establishment of animal models of normal-iodine (NI) and different degrees of high-iodine (HI) intake in Wistar rats, the content of monoiodotyrosine (MIT), diiodotyrosine (DIT), T(4), and T(3) in thyroid tissues, the activity of thyroidal type 1 deiodinase (D1) and its (Dio1) mRNA expression level were measured. Results showed that, in the case of iodine excess, the biosynthesis of both MIT and DIT, especially DIT, was increased. There was an obvious tendency of decreasing in MIT/DIT ratio with increased doses of iodine intake. In addition, iodine excess greatly inhibited thyroidal D1 activity and mRNA expression. T(3) was greatly lower in the HI group, while there was no significant difference of T(4) compared with NI group. The T(3)/T(4) ratio was decreased in HI groups, antiparalleled with increased doses of iodine intakes. In conclusion, the increased biosyntheses of DIT relative to MIT and the inhibition of thyroidal Dio1 mRNA expression and D1 activity may be taken as an effective way to protect an organism from impairment caused by too much T(3). These observations provide new insights into the cellular regulation mechanism of thyroid hormones under physiological and pathological conditions.

Attention to the hiding iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women after universal salt iodization: A multi-community study in China

BACKGROUND

Monitoring of iodine nutrition depends chiefly on the urinary iodine concentration in representative samples from the population. International groups have recommended school-age children as a convenient group for surveys, because of their accessibility and young age, but the relevance of this group to others, especially pregnant women, is not well established.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to compare different approaches to assessing iodine nutrition within communities, especially for pregnant and lactating women.

DESIGN

In an urban and a rural site from each of the 11 Chinese provinces, covering a wide geographic and socioeconomic range, we measured the iodine content of household salt and drinking water, the thyroid volume in school children, and the urinary iodine concentration in five population subsets; in some sites we also assessed iodine in breast milk and thyroid size in adult women.

RESULTS

The median urinary iodine concentrations for pregnant and lactating women were well below those of the schoolchildren from the same community in most study sites, the difference between medians, at overall level, being about 50 microg/l for the pregnant and 40 microg/l for the lactating, respectively. When ranked by median urinary iodine concentrations at overall level, the order of the groups was: all infants, schoolchildren, women of childbearing age, lactating women and pregnant women in both urban and rural sites. This relative distribution was constant among the study sites. From it, we derived a relationship to predict the median values for other groups, based on the data of schoolchildren. The median iodine content of salt was 30.9 ppm in urban sites and 31.3 ppm in rural sites, respectively, close to the nationally mandated 35 mg/kg. Water had low iodine content (3.7 microg/l) in both urban and rural sites except in a rural site from Tianjin. Ultrasonography showed that 6.5% of 1329 children in urban sites and 5.3% of 1431 children in rural sites had thyroid enlargement. Breast milk had a median iodine content of 135.9 microg/l in the urban and 157.5 microg/l in the rural. The goiter prevalence by palpation was low (2.0%) among all women examined (3367), but higher in pregnant women (2.7%) than in lactating women or other adult women.

CONCLUSIONS

An effective iodized salt program has brought iodine sufficiency to most of China, but pregnant women in some areas may still risk deficiency and need further supplements. We suggest other countries and international agencies pay more attention to pregnancy, where iodine deficiency has its worst consequences.

[Effects of the combination of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (AM), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (TAS), Cyperus rotundus L. (CR), Ligusticum chuangxiong Hort (LC) and Peaonìa veitchii lynch (PV) on the hemorheological changes in "blood stagnating" rats]

The "blood stagnating" rat model was built with adrenaline and cold stimulation. Its hemorrheological character was an increase in the viscosity, thickness and liability to coagulate. The experimental result showed that AM and TAS could decrease the whole blood specific viscosity, but at the same time increase the plasma specific viscosity. The qi-regulating drug CR and two blood-activating drugs LC and PV could improve the hemorrheological changes in "blood stagnating" rats. The combination of qi-regulating drugs and blood-activating drugs had more favorable effect.

[Effects of the combination of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (AM), tail of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. (TAS), Cyperus rotundus L. (CR), Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (LC) and Paeonia veitchii Lynch (PV) on the hemorrheological changes in normal rats]

The results showed that AM and TAS had significant effects of enriching the blood. CR, a Qi-regulating drug, LC and PV, two blood-activating drugs, could improve all hemorrheological indexes, such as the whole blood specific viscosity, the plasma specific viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoresis, etc. The combination of Qi-regulating drug and blood-activating drug displayed more favorable effect. This experiment has provided some pharmacological evidence for the theory of "Qi Xue Xiang Guan" (correlation of vital energy with blood circulation) in traditional Chinese medicine.

Rehepatectomy of primary liver cancer

From January 1960 to July 1991, 72 patients underwent reoperation for recurrence of liver cancer. Hepatectomy was performed twice in 59 cases, three and four times each in nine and three cases. The 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates after the first operation were 98.6%, 69.9%, and 49.5%, respectively, while after the second operation these rates were 90.8%, 53.5%, and 36.1%, respectively. The 1,2, and 3-year survival rates after the third operation were 100%, 85.6%, and 36.7%, respectively. The preliminary results of rehepatectomy are thus encouraging. The indications for reintervention, types of operation, prophylactic measures against tumor recurrence and metastases, and evaluation of rehepatectomy are discussed.

[Effect of anoxia on the growth of cultured neurons from embryonic chick forebrain]

Pure neurons from embryonic day 8 chick forebrain were cultured under anoxic condition (95% N2 and 5% CO2). After 24, 48 and 72 h in culture, MTT colorimetric microassay showed a reduced production of formazan, indicating that the neurons were seriously damaged. In addition, the glucose of the cultured media was significantly depleted. Even when glucose concentration was increased to 800-1,200 mg/100 ml, anoxia still caused neurons to die. The results indicate that brain neurons in embryo are sensitive to anoxia, and any protective influence of glia on anoxic neurons could not be mediated by supplying the latter with glycogen.

[Effect of trace elements in traditional Chinese medicine in the light of Chinese medicinal theory]

This paper presents a survey of the study on the relationship between trace elements and effect of treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. The authors have made a review in the light of Chinese medicinal theory.

[Comparison of promoting the proliferation and fusion of myoblast between conditioned media from fibroblasts of chick embryo and fetal mouse]

Conditioned media were prepared by using the collected media which had cultured fibroblasts from muscle tissue of fetal mouse (ICR) or chick embryo (Leghorn chicken). The effects of these media on the proliferation and fusion in mouse or chick myoblast were studied quantitatively. The results were as follows: (1) the conditioned medium from fibroblasts of fetal mouse promoted the proliferation of mouse or chick embryonic myoblasts by 2.65 times (P less than 0.001) or 2.35 times (P less than 0.01) as compared with control groups respectively. (2) The conditioned medium from fibroblasts of embryonic chicken promoted the proliferation of chick or mouse embryonic myoblasts by 2.66 times (P less than 0.01) or 2.17 times (P less than 0.01) respectively. (3) The conditioned medium from fibroblasts of fetal mouse enhanced the fused rate of mouse or chick myoblasts by 1.9 or 2.6 times respectively. The conditioned medium from fibroblasts of embryonic chick enhanced the rate of chick myoblast fusion by 2.1 times, but the effect on the mouse myoblast fusion was not remarkable. The results suggest that the effect of fibroblast conditioned media on myoblast proliferation is similar in the two species, but the effect on the fusion of myoblasts is somewhat species-specific.

The effects on fetal brain development in the rat of a severely iodine deficient diet derived from an endemic area: observations on the first generation

Rats were fed on a severely iodine deficient diet (iodine content 4.5 micrograms/100 g) similar to that being consumed by people living in a village with a high rate of endemic cretinism. After a period of 4 months, the thyroid and brain were studied in the adult and their fetuses at 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 days of gestation, and in postnatal animals at 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 days of age. By comparison with a control group (diet with iodine content 54.7 micrograms/100 g) the experimental group showed marked goitres, a higher uptake of 125I by the thyroid, reduced serum T4, and reduction in brain weight. The cerebral and cerebellar histological findings showed that the density of brain cells had increased, and the mean neuron size was reduced. Furthermore, disappearance of the cerebellar EGL was delayed. These findings indicate that this animal model is likely to be suitable for the studies of endemic cretinism in man.