Creating Optimal Conditions for OPA1 Isoforms by Western Blot in Skeletal Muscle Cells and Tissue

OPA1 is a dynamin-related GTPase that modulates various mitochondrial functions and is involved in mitochondrial morphology. There are eight different isoforms of OPA1 in humans and five different isoforms in mice that are expressed as short or long-form isoforms. These isoforms contribute to OPA1's ability to control mitochondrial functions. However, isolating OPA1 all long and short isoforms through western blot has been a difficult task. To address this issue, we outline an optimized western blot protocol to isolate 5 different isoforms of OPA1 on the basis of different antibodies. This protocol can be used to study changes in mitochondrial structure and function.

The effect of adding ethanolic saffron petal extract (SPE) and vitamin E on growth performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status in Baluchi male lambs

Objective

This study investigated the effects of the administration of ethanolic saffron petal extract (SPE) and vitamin E on growth performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status in Baluchi lambs.

Methods

Thirty-two Baluchi male lambs (35.22±5.75 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups. The 1st (control), 2nd (ISPE) and 3rd (Vit. E) groups were respectively injected subcutaneously with either physiological saline (5 ml), SPE (25 mg/kg BW) or DL-α-tocopheryl acetate (225 IU) once a week. An oral dose of SPE (500 mg/kg BW) was also administered to the 4th group (OSPE). Feed intake and body weight were measured for 42 days and blood samples were taken on days 1, 14, 28 and 42. The lambs were slaughtered and tissue samples were taken.

Results

Growth performance and many blood metabolites were not affected (p>0.05) by the treatments. Cholesterol of plasma in the ISPE and Vit. E groups was similar and less (p<0.01) than both the OSPE and control groups. Although there was no significant difference between the control and other groups for plasma triglyceride, the ISPE group showed lower (p<0.05) triglyceride than the OSPE and Vit. E groups. The highest (p<0.01) plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was detected in the OSPE group, while the ISPE and Vit. E groups showed higher (p<0.01) superoxide dismutase (SOD) of plasma than the control. Malondialdehyde of plasma in the ISPE group was lower (p<0.05) than the OSPE. No differences (p>0.05) were observed among the groups for antioxidant status of both of the longissimus dorsi muscle and liver. However, the activity of GPx in the kidney and heart, as well as SOD activity in the kidney, were influenced (p≤0.01) by the treatments.

Conclusion

Adding ethanolic SPE improved antioxidant status and lowered lipids oxidation in lambs. The SPE and vitamin E demonstrated similar effects on antioxidant status in lambs.