Changes in levels of serum glycoproteins in major depressive disorders

Bio-tea prevents membrane destabilization during Isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury

The present study was undertaken to determine the membrane-stabilizing effect of Bio-tea in the prevention of myocardial injury caused by isoproterenol in rats. The efficiency of Bio-tea pretreatment was compared against black tea pretreatment and the positive control (rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction) and negative control (normal control rats). For this purpose, biochemical analysis of the in vivo antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione), glycoprotein components (hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid, and fucose), lipids (total, ester and free cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids), and transmembrane protein activities (Na+/K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase, and Mg2+ ATPase) was carried out along with the histological and ultrastructural study of the myocardial tissue. Induction of myocardial infarction using isoproterenol resulted in a significant decrease in tissue antioxidants and an increase in the levels of total, ester and free cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and glycoprotein components in plasma and heart. The phospholipid content showed an increase in plasma and a simultaneous decrease in the heart tissue, while the Na+/K+ ATPase activity decreased and Ca2+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase activities increased, resulting in destabilization of the membranes. Pretreatment with Bio-tea was able to bring these components to near normal, indicating its reactive-oxygen-species-scavenging, lipid-lowering, membrane-stabilizing and glycoprotein-modulating effects and lending credibility to the regular use of Bio-tea.

Investigations on light induced stress model and on the role of Phyllanthus amarus in attenuation of stress related depression with focus on 5HT2Am- RNA expression

Background

There is an increasing evidence that psychological stress and depression trigger changes in various biochemical parameters in animals and human subjects. Chronic stress in rats, and psychosocial stress in humans, is implicated in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders.

Purpose

The current study was been designed to investigate the behavioral, anatomical status of rat brain and expression of serotonin receptor (5HT_2A) mRNA related to pathophysiology of stress after high light (HL) illumination and to evaluate the effect of Phyllanthus amarus (PA) over such stress induced changes in mid brain and prefrontal cortex region of rat brain.

Methods

Bright light illumination was used to induce stress in wistar rats. Established methods were used to analyse biochemical and histopathological tests.

Results

PA administration to HL stressed animals for 7 days prevented stress-induced oxidative damage, as evidenced by significant enhancement of key endogenous antioxidant defense components. HL stress also caused reduced activities of membrane bound enzymes in synaptic membrane along with reduced levels of lipid profile and glycoprotein in the midbrain region. Stress induced changes in the locomotor activity, time spent for exploring the center of the arena, frequency of rearing and grooming, and frequency of facing the corner of the arena, were altered on PA administration.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of PA may be mediated, atleast partially, via reversal of oxidative damage. Further the study demonstrates the promising intervention by PA on the mRNA expression of 5HT 2A in the brain. These preliminary results pave the way for further validation of PA against stress.

Amaranthus viridis Linn., a common spinach, modulates C-reactive protein, protein profile, ceruloplasmin and glycoprotein in experimental induced myocardial infarcted rats

BACKGROUND

Glycoprotein is one of the components of the cardiac extracellular matrix and plays an important role in cardiac remodelling during various cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). This study was aimed at evaluating the preventive role of Amaranthus viridis Linn. on C-reactive protein (CRP), total protein, albumin, globulin, ceruloplasmin and glycoproteins in the serum and heart of experimental induced myocardial infarcted (MI) rats.

RESULTS

MI was induced in male Wistar rats by subcutaneous injection of 20 mg kg(-1) isoproterenol (ISO) kg(-1) body weight (BW) twice at an interval of 24 h. ISO-induced MI rats showed a significant increase in the levels of serum CRP and ceruloplasmin and a significant decrease in the levels of serum total protein, albumin and globulin. Glycoprotein levels in the serum and heart were increased in ISO-induced MI rats. Oral administration of 300 mg A. viridis kg(-1) BW day(-1) for a period of 45 days altered the metabolic derangement in ISO-induced MI rats.

CONCLUSION

This study exemplifies the protective effect of A. viridis on ISO-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The data further reinforce the cardioprotective effect of A. viridis by altering CRP and glycoprotein levels.

Assessment of serum L-fucose in brain tumor cases

BACKGROUND

Glycosylation of altered tumor cell in relation to cellular heterogeneity in human intracranial tumors remains relatively unexposed. Serum protein-bound carbohydrate, L-Fucose is reported to be overexpressed during tumor progression by many investigators. Therefore, there is a need to determine the diagnostic, prognostic, functional significance of glycoprotein elevations in various cases of tumors.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of serum L-fucose in patients with brain tumor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum glyco-conjugate levels were estimated in 99 patients with brain tumors. Estimation of L-fucose was carried out colorimetrically by the method of Winzler using cysteine hydrochloride.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in L-fucose level in most of the patients. In the posttreatment cases, the L-fucose levels were apparently low compared to preoperative values.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that the rise in serum L-fucose may be used as a general marker for brain tumors in addition to other markers.

Protective effect of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (alliin) on glycoproteins and hematology in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in male Wistar rats

The antihyperlipidemic, antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant effects of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (SACS) in myocardial infarcted rats were reported previously. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the preventive role of SACS on some biochemical parameters, glycoproteins and hematology in experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats. Myocardial infarction was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO) (150 mg kg(-1)) at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. ISO-treated rats showed a significant increase in the levels of serum iron, uric acid and blood glucose, Na(+) and Ca(2+) in the heart and a significant decrease in the levels of plasma iron binding capacity, serum total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, heart K(+) and heart glycogen. The levels/concentrations of glycoproteins in serum and the heart were increased in myocardial infarcted rats. Myocardial infarcted rats also showed a significant increase in red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophils, platelet count and fibrinogen level and a significant decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophils, lymphocytes, bleeding, clotting and prothrombin time. Oral pretreatment with SACS (40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) daily for a period of 35 days showed a positive effect on all the biochemical parameters studied in ISO-induced rats. Thus, the study showed the protective effect of SACS on ISO-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats.