Investigations of oxidant/antioxidant status and hemoglobin biophysical properties in buffalo calves with special reference to inferior preweaning vitality

Neuroprotective activity of Ulmus pumila L. in Alzheimer's disease in rats; role of neurotrophic factors

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders which affects the hippocampus and cortical neurons leading to impairment of cognitive ability. Treatment of AD depends mainly on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, however, a novel therapeutic approach is introduced based on the maintenance of neuronal viability and functionality exerted through neurotrophic factors. In the current study, Ulmus pumila L. leaves alcoholic extract was investigated for its neuroprotective activity in AlCl3-induced AD in rats. Rats were orally treated with AlCl3 (17 mg/kg) for 4 weeks followed by U. pumila extract (150 mg/kg b.wt.) for another 6 weeks. Treatment of neuro-intoxicated rats with U. pumila extract resulted in a significant regulation in neurotrophic factors; brain derived neurotrophic factor and transforming growth factor-β and pro-inflammatory cytokine; TNF. It also induced an elevation in serum levels of monoamine neurotransmitters; norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin and a decline in brain acetlycholinesterase activity. U. pumila extract also showed potent antioxidant activity as indicated by the declined malondialdehyde and elevated reduced glutathione, catalase and super oxide dismutase levels in AD rats' brains. Histological improvement was detected in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus and striatum of the treated rats. The phytochemical analysis of U. pumila extract revealed high contents of flavonoids and phenolics and the major compounds were isolated and chemically characterized. Additionally, U. pumila extract and the isolated compounds exerted a prominent activity in in-vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay with kaempferol-3-O-β-glucoside being the most potent compound showing IC50 of 29.03 ± 0.0155 μM. A molecular docking study indicated high affinity of kaempferol-3-O-β-robinobioside on acetylcholine esterase binding site with estimated binding free energy of -8.26 kcal/mol.

[Age-related changes in antioxidant parameters in healthy calves between the first day of life and the 18th month taking into consideration selected metabolic parameters]

OBJECTIVE

To follow the age-dependent development of anti-oxidative metabolic parameters in healthy cattle from birth until 18 months of age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Blood samples from healthy female cattle were collected at days 1 and 7 post natum (p. n.) and during the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th and 18th month p. n. The antioxidant parameters superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC), haematocrit (Hct) and the metabolic parameters total protein, albumin, bilirubin, calcium, inorganic phosphate, iron, urea, cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyrate, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and haptoglobin were determined.

RESULTS

All three antioxidant parameters displayed a comparable time-course, with a maximum at 6 months p. n. With the exception of the 9th month p. n., significantly positive correlations were found constantly. GPX activity increased continuously from 50-80 U/ml Hct on day 1 p. n. to 100-190 U/ml Hct in the 6th month p. n. The significantly lowest activities were found on the 1st and 7th day p. n. SOD activity at the 1st (4500-5600 U/g haemoglobin [Hb]) and 7th day p. n. were significantly lower than in the 1st and 3rd month p. n. Activi- ties at 12 and 18 months displayed significantly lower values com- pared to the 1st, 3rd and 6th (5000-9100 U/g Hb) month p. n. The increase in the TEAC concentration from 220-290 µmol/l on day 1 to 260-340 µmol/l in the 6th month p. n. was non-significant. Thereafter, a significant decrease in the concentrations (p>0.05) was found.

CONCLUSION

Parallel trends for SOD, GPX and TEAC found in this study indicate a fully functioning antioxidant defence system in the calf, which is well adjusted to and able to compensate the inevitable oxidative stress of birth, onset of respiration, haemoglobin remodelling, forestomach development and other physiological processes.