In order to improve the bioavailability of lutein(LUT),a novel lutein-stevio side nanoparticle(LUT-STE)were prepared previously,but the information about LUT-STE on protecting of eye health was limited.This study inve...In order to improve the bioavailability of lutein(LUT),a novel lutein-stevio side nanoparticle(LUT-STE)were prepared previously,but the information about LUT-STE on protecting of eye health was limited.This study investigated the effect of LUT-STE on antioxidant activity of H_(2)O_(2)-induced human retinal pigment epithelial(ARPE)cells.LUT and LUT-STE(final concentration of 5μg/mL)significantly enhanced cell viability from(74.84±5.10)%to(81.92±10.01)%(LUT)and(89.33±4.34)%(LUT-STE),and inhibited the cell apoptosis(P<0.05).After pretreatment with LUT-STE in ARPE cells,the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and glutathion peroxidase(GSH-Px)in ARPE cells were significantly increased(P<0.05),the contents of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were decreased.In addition,the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)levels were inhibited by 13.61%and 17.39%,respectively,pretreatment with LUT and LUT-STE.Western blotting results showed that the pretreatment with LUT-STE inhibited the expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and up-regulated Bcl-2/Bax pathway to inhibit H_(2)O_(2)-induced apoptosis.In summary,the novel delivery LUT-STE had more pronounced inhibitory effect on H_(2)O_(2)-induced damage in human ARPE cells.展开更多
Carotenoids are an important component of the human diet, and fruit is a primary source of carotenoids. The synthesis and regulation of carotenoids in fruit are important contributors to the formation of fruit quality...Carotenoids are an important component of the human diet, and fruit is a primary source of carotenoids. The synthesis and regulation of carotenoids in fruit are important contributors to the formation of fruit quality. In China, strawberry is one of the main seasonal fruits grown in the winter. Previous studies have shown that light has a significant effect on the metabolism of anthocyanins, sugars, and polyphenols in strawberry. However, the understanding of the role of light in regulating the metabolism of carotenoids in strawberry remains limited. This study investigated the effects of blue, red, yellow-green, and white light on carotenoid metabolism in strawberry.Blue light treatment promoted the synthesis of multiple carotenoids, including lutein, compared with the other three treatment groups. The RNA sequencing data revealed that blue light treatment promoted the expression of lycopene ε-cyclase(LCYE), and the transient overexpression of LCYE in strawberry fruit promoted lutein accumulation in strawberry. Overall, the results suggest that blue light can promote the synthesis of lutein in strawberry by inducing the expression of LCYE.展开更多
In order to effectively deliver lutein to the inflamed colon and better exert its pharmacological activity,this paper constructed a sodium alginate hydrogel-based delivery system loaded with lutein nanoparticles,evalu...In order to effectively deliver lutein to the inflamed colon and better exert its pharmacological activity,this paper constructed a sodium alginate hydrogel-based delivery system loaded with lutein nanoparticles,evaluated the regulation on the expression and secretion of related inflammatory factors in mice with colitis,and its impact on intestinal microbial environment.The results showed that comparing lutein crystal and its nanoparticle,lutein hydrogel alleviated dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced colitis in mice more effectively by adjusting fecal heme content,colon tissue damage,and inflammatory factor levels.Moreover,lutein hydrogel increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins zonula occluden-1(ZO-1),claudin-1 and occludin to maintain the integrity of the intestinal-barrier,inhibited the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway and reduced expression and secretion of inflammatory factors including tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),NOD-like receptors 3(NLRP3)and interleukin(IL)-1β.In addition,the intestinal microbial environment of mice with colitis was improved by down-regulating the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and up-regulating the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Rikenellaceae.As a slow-release carrier to load lutein nanoparticles,sodium alginate-based hydrogel has potential application prospect.展开更多
Marigold(Tagetes erecta L., African marigold) is a widely grown ornamental plant and a main source of the carotenoid lutein for the industrial production of pharmaceuticals, food coloring, and feed additives. To gain ...Marigold(Tagetes erecta L., African marigold) is a widely grown ornamental plant and a main source of the carotenoid lutein for the industrial production of pharmaceuticals, food coloring, and feed additives. To gain a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanism of lutein in marigold, a chromosome-scale assembly of the marigold(T. erecta V-01) genome was completed based on Illumina, PacBio, and Hi-C reads. The707.21-Mb assembled genome consisted of 35 834 annotated protein-coding genes, with 97.7% genomic integrity. We anchored 87.8% of the contigs(covering 621.20 Mb) to 12 pseudochromosomes, bringing the scaffold N50 length to 54.15 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis showed that marigold was closely related to the Asteraceae species bitter vine(Mikania micrantha) and sunflower(Helianthus annuus), all three of which originated in the Americas. Marigold diverged from the sunflower clade 23.57 million years ago(MYA) and from M. micrantha 19.59 MYA.Marigold has undergone three whole-genome duplication events, as well as a recent whole-genome duplication event(WGD-2) common to H.annuus and M. micrantha. Marigold gene families were significantly less expanded than those of M. micrantha or H. annuus, and the marigold genome contained significantly fewer interspersed repeats, which might account for its smaller genome. In addition, a range of candidate genes involved in the lutein biosynthetic pathway were identified. The high-quality reference genome obtained in this study provided a valuable genomic resource for studying the evolution of the Asteraceae family and for improving marigold breeding strategies.展开更多
AIM:To compare the effect of vegetable oils on the uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin by adult retinal pigment epithelial(ARPE)-19 cells in vitro.METHODS:ARPE-19 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium-F...AIM:To compare the effect of vegetable oils on the uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin by adult retinal pigment epithelial(ARPE)-19 cells in vitro.METHODS:ARPE-19 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium-F-12 supplemented with 10%foetal bovine serum and 1%penicillin–streptomycin in a humidified 5%CO_(2) incubator maintained at 37℃.Cells were treated with 247μmol/L lutein,49μmol/L zeaxanthin and 1%(v/v)of either coconut oil,corn oil,peanut oil,olive oil,sunflower oil,soybean oil,castor oil,or linseed oil for 48h.Lutein and zeaxanthin concentration in the cells were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS:Among the oils tested,the highest lutein and zeaxanthin uptake was observed with coconut oil while the lowest was observed with linseed oil.CONCLUSION:ARPE-19 uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin are found to be dependent on the type of oils.展开更多
To clarify the characteristics of photoinhibition and the primary defense mechanisms of ephemeral plant leaves against photodestruction under high temperature stress,inhibitors and the technology to determine chloroph...To clarify the characteristics of photoinhibition and the primary defense mechanisms of ephemeral plant leaves against photodestruction under high temperature stress,inhibitors and the technology to determine chlorophyll fluorescence were used to explore the protective effects of D1 protein turnover and the lutein cycle in the high temperature stress of the leaves of three ephemeral plants.The results showed that the maximum light conversion efficiency(Fv/Fm)of the ephemeral plant leaves decreased,and the initial fluorescence(Fo)increased under 35℃±1℃ heat stress for 1-4 h or on sunny days in the summer.Both Fv/Fm and Fo could be recovered after 8 h of darkness or afternoon weakening of the external temperature.Streptomycin sulfate(SM)or dithiothreitol(DTT)accelerated the decrease of Fv/Fm and the photochemical quenching coefficient(qP)in the leaves of three ephemeral plants at high temperature,and the decrease was greater in the SM than in the DTT treatment.When the high temperature stress was prolonged,the Y(II)values of light energy distribution parameters of PSII decreased,and the Y(NPQ)and Y(NO)values increased gradually in all the treatment groups of the three ephemeral plants.The results showed that the leaves of the three ephemeral plants had their own highly advanced mechanisms to protect against photodamage,which inhibited the turnover of D1 protein and xanthophyll cycle.This can damage the PSII reaction center in the leaves of the three ephemeral plants under high temperature.The protective effect of D1 protein turnover on heat stress in Erodium oxyrrhynchum and Senecio subdentatus was greater than that of the lutein cycle,while the protective effect of lutein cycle was greater than that of D1 protein turnover in Heliotropium acutiflorum subjected to heat damage.展开更多
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-compar...Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-comparative study healthy subjects were instructed to take one capsule of Eagle Eye Lutein 20 Vision Caps (Innomedis AG) per day with a meal for 6 months. MPV was measured with the MP-Eye system (AzulOptics) after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Mesopic vision (MV), glare sensitivity (GS) and contrast vision threshold (CVT) were measured with the Binoptometer 4P system (OCULUS Optikgeräte). Results: Twenty-three healthy subjects between 19 and 56 years were enrolled. A significant increase was observed in MPV (p Conclusions: The specially formulated food supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin induced a significant increase in MPV, and consequently an improvement in the visual function after 3 and 6 months in healthy subjects.展开更多
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-compar...Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-comparative study healthy subjects were instructed to take one capsule of Eagle Eye Lutein 20 Vision Caps (Innomedis AG) per day with a meal for 6 months. MPV was measured with the MP-Eye system (AzulOptics) after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Mesopic vision (MV), glare sensitivity (GS) and contrast vision threshold (CVT) were measured with the Binoptometer 4P system (OCULUS Optikgeräte). Results: Twenty-three healthy subjects between 19 and 56 years were enrolled. A significant increase was observed in MPV (p Conclusions: The specially formulated food supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin induced a significant increase in MPV, and consequently an improvement in the visual function after 3 and 6 months in healthy subjects.展开更多
AIM: To compare serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin (L/Z) concentrations between patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and normal subjects,and to explore the effect of L/Z supplementation on serum L/Z leve...AIM: To compare serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin (L/Z) concentrations between patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and normal subjects,and to explore the effect of L/Z supplementation on serum L/Z level and visual function in NDR patients METHODS: Subjects were divided into three groups: 30 NDR patients supplied with Lutein 6mg/d and Zeaxanthin 0.5mg/d for three months (DR Group),30 NDR patients without L/Z supplementation (DR Control Group) and 30 normal subjects (Control Group).Serum L/Z concentrations were measured by liquid high-resolution chromatography (HPLC).Visual acuity was recorded at baseline,1 month,2 months and 3 months post initial supplementation.Serum L/Z concentration were measured at baseline,1 month and 2 months post initial supplementation.Contrast sensitivity (CS) and fovea thickness were recorded at baseline and 3 months post initial supplementation.RESULTS: Mean serum lutein concentrations in DR group were 0.0686±0.0296μg/mL and zeaxanthin concentration was 0.0137±0.0059μg/mL.The L/Z level of DR group was significantly lower compared to the control group( lutein: 0.2302±0.1308μg/mL,zeaxanthin: 0.0456±0.0266μg/m,P = 0.000).The concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in the DR control group at base line was 0.0714±0.0357μg/mL and 0.0119±0.0072μg/mL,respectively.There was no significant change of L/Z concentration in the DR control group during the study.Serum L/Z concentrations of DR group increased significantly after supplementation(F=109.124,P=0.000;F=219.207,P=0.000).Visual acuity improved significantly after medication.Compared with pre-medication,the average CS values of 1.5cpd,3cpd and 6cpd after three months increased significantly (P =0.030,0.013,0.008) and the foveal thickness decreased.(P =0.05) CONCLUSION: Serum L/Z concentrations in DR patients are significantly lower than those in normal subjects,and L/Z intake can improve the visual acuity,CS and macular edema in DR patients,suggesting that L/Z supplementation might be targeted as potential potential therapeutic agents in treating NDR.展开更多
Lutein is an antioxidant that is deposited in the macular region of the eye and is crucial to macular function. Lutein is present in human milk and recently has been added to infant and toddler formulas. A method for ...Lutein is an antioxidant that is deposited in the macular region of the eye and is crucial to macular function. Lutein is present in human milk and recently has been added to infant and toddler formulas. A method for the extraction and quantification of lutein from lutein-fortified infant formula and toddler milk products was developed. The lipids and carotenoids were extracted from the samples with ethanol and hexane:tetrahydrofuran. Polar xanthophylls were ex-tracted from the organic mixture with ethanol:water, leaving behind lipids and less polar carotenoids. The ethanol:water extracts were dried, reconstituted in mobile phase, and the lutein was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. A C30 carotenoid column and a mobile phase gradient of methyl-tert-butyl ether and methanol were used for the chromatographic separation. Validation data showed repeatability with relative stan-dard deviations < 4% and intermediate precision with relative standard deviations <20% at a low fortification level, 25 mcg lutein/L, and <12% at a high fortification level, 200 mcg lutein/L. Overall recoveries from sample matrix ranged from 88% to 106%. This liquid:liquid extraction method for the quantification of lutein in infant formulas is precise and accurate. Keywords: Lutein;carotenoid;infant formula;toddler milk;xanthophylls.展开更多
AIM To investigate the therapeutic potential of two recombinant proteins, Survivin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein [LHRH(6 leu)-LTB] for immunotherapy of breast cancer.METHODS Murine 4 ...AIM To investigate the therapeutic potential of two recombinant proteins, Survivin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein [LHRH(6 leu)-LTB] for immunotherapy of breast cancer.METHODS Murine 4 T-1 breast cancer model was used to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant proteins in vivo. Twenty four Balb/c mice were divided into 4 groups of 6 mice each. Recombinant Survivin and LHRH fusion protein, alone or in combination, were administered along with immunomodulator Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) in Balb/c mice. Unimmunized or control group mice were administered with phosphate buffer saline. Each group was then challenged with syngeneic 4 T-1 cells to induce the growth of breast tumor. Tumor growth was monitored to evaluate the efficacy of immune-response in preventing the growth of cancer cells.RESULTS Preventive immunization with 20 μg recombinant Survivin and MIP was effective in suppressing growth of 4 T-1 mouse model of breast cancer (P = 0.04) but 50 μg dose was ineffective in suppressing tumor growth. However, combination of Survivin and LHRH fusion protein was more effective in suppressing tumor growth (P = 0.02) as well as metastasis in vivo in comparison to LHRH fusion protein as vaccine antigen alone.CONCLUSION Recombinant Survivin and MIP suppress tumor growth significantly. Combining LHRH fusion protein with Survivin and MIP enhances tumor suppressive effects marginally which provides evidence for recombinant Survivin and LHRH fusion protein as candidates for translating the combination cancer immunotherapy approaches.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of lutein against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and the related underlying mechanism.METHODS: After 9 d of acclimation to a constant temperature-controlled room(...AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of lutein against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and the related underlying mechanism.METHODS: After 9 d of acclimation to a constant temperature-controlled room(20 ℃-22 ℃) under 12h light/dark cycles,male Sprague-Darley rats were randomly divided into two groups and fed a standard commercial diet(n = 8) or a high-fat diet(HFD)(n = 32) for 10 d.Animals receiving HFD were then randomly divided into 4 groups and administered with 0,12.5,25,or 50 mg/kg(body weight) per day of lutein for the next 45 d.At the end of the experiment,the perinephric and abdominal adipose tissues of the rats were isolated and weighed.Additionally,serum and liver lipid metabolic condition parameters were measured,and liver function and insulin resistance state indexes were assessed.Liver samples were collected and stained with hematoxylin eosin and Oil Red O,and the expression of the key factors related to insulin signaling and lipid metabolism in the liver were detected using Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Our data showed that after being fed a high-fat diet for 10 d,the rats showed a significant gain in body weight,energy efficiency,and serum total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) levels.Lutein supplementation induced fat loss in rats fed a highfat diet,without influencing body weight or energy efficiency,and decreased serum TC and hepatic TC and TG levels.Moreover,lutein supplementation decreased hepatic levels of lipid accumulation and glutamic pyruvic transaminase content,and also improved insulin sensitivity.Lutein administration also increased the expression of key factors in hepatic insulin signaling,such as insulin receptor substrate-2,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,and glucose transporter-2 at the gene and protein levels.Furthermore,high-dose lutein increased the expression of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-α and sirtuin 1,which are associated with lipid metabolism and insulin signaling.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that lutein has positive effects on NAFLD via the modulation of hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance.展开更多
AIM: To detect whether the combination of vincamine, thioctic acid and lutein will improve the retina and optic nerve functions in cases of an opaque media with an optic nerve and/or a retinal defect or not.METHODS: T...AIM: To detect whether the combination of vincamine, thioctic acid and lutein will improve the retina and optic nerve functions in cases of an opaque media with an optic nerve and/or a retinal defect or not.METHODS: Totally 2000 patients(2000 eyes) of corneal opacities with defects in the optic nerve or/and the retinal functions were studied. Every patient received three types of drugs: thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, vincamine, and lutein. The drugs were given daily for 3-12 mo according to patient’s responses. Full field flash electroretinogram(ERG) and flash visual evoked potential(VEP) were done before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo sequentially. Patients were followed up for 12 mo.RESULTS: In the 2000 eyes, 1000 eyes had both moderate optic nerve and retinal function defects;and 840 eyes out of the 1000 improved with the medical treatment. Another 500 eyes out of the 2000 eyes had extinguished retinal function with normal optic nerve function and only 125 eyes of them improved. The 290 out of the 2000 eyes had severe defects in optic nerve with normal retinal function and 130 of them improved. Another 210 eyes have mild optic nerve and retinal function defects and 194 improved.CONCLUSION: The combination of vincamine, thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, and lutein improved both retina and optic nerve functions mainly in mild and moderate defect than in severe cases.展开更多
Retinitis pigmentosa is a retinal disease characterized by photoreceptor degeneration.There is currently no effective treatment for retinitis pigmentosa.Although a mixture of lutein and other antioxidant agents has sh...Retinitis pigmentosa is a retinal disease characterized by photoreceptor degeneration.There is currently no effective treatment for retinitis pigmentosa.Although a mixture of lutein and other antioxidant agents has shown promising effects in protecting the retina from degeneration,the role of lutein alone remains unclear.In this study,we administered intragastric lutein to Pde6brd10 model mice,which display degeneration of retinal photoreceptors,on postnatal days 17(P17)to P25,when rod apoptosis reaches peak.Lutein at the optimal protective dose of 200 mg/kg promoted the survival of photoreceptors compared with vehicle control.Lutein increased rhodopsin expression in rod cells and opsin expression in cone cells,in line with an increased survival rate of photoreceptors.Functionally,lutein improved visual behavior,visual acuity,and retinal electroretinogram responses in Pde6brd10 mice.Mechanistically,lutein reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in Müller glial cells.The results of this study confirm the ability of lutein to postpone photoreceptor degeneration by reducing reactive gliosis of Müller cells in the retina and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jinan University(approval No.LACUC-20181217-02)on December 17,2018.展开更多
Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone(LHRH) is known to influence sexual behavior in many vertebrate taxa,but there have been no systematic studies on the role of LHRH in sexual behavior of turtles.We tested the hypot...Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone(LHRH) is known to influence sexual behavior in many vertebrate taxa,but there have been no systematic studies on the role of LHRH in sexual behavior of turtles.We tested the hypotheses that exogenous LHRH analogues would induce sexual behavior of male Four-eyed turtle,Sacalia quadriocellata.We examined this by challenging males with intramuscular injections of mammalian luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue(LHRH-A),human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG),or a combination of the two,and subsequently exposing them to sexually receptive females for behavioral observation.Our data show that the injection of only HCG could not,while that of only LHRH-A could,facilitate sexual behavior along with testicular recrudescence and spermatogenesis in S.quadriocellata.The injection of both LHRH-A and HCG would induce more drastic sexual behavior of the animals than that of LHRH-A alone,indicating HCG enhances the effects of LHRH-A induced sexual behavior.However,different pharmacological dosages of LHRH-A(0.5 g,1 g,2 g per 100 g bodyweight) did not correspond to different activity levels.Though the mechanism of LHRH effect was not determined,this study may support that the sexual behavior of S.quadriocellata which occurs at the beginning of the injection despite regression of the gonads.This is the first report on the exogenous LHRH-A induced sexual behavior for this species.展开更多
Background:Replacement gilts are typically fed ad libitum,whereas emerging evidence from human and rodent studies has revealed that time-restricted access to food has health benefits.The objective of this study was to...Background:Replacement gilts are typically fed ad libitum,whereas emerging evidence from human and rodent studies has revealed that time-restricted access to food has health benefits.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of meal frequency on the metabolic status and ovarian follicular development in gilts.Methods:A total of 36 gilts(Landrace×Yorkshire)with an age of 150±3 d and a body weight of 77.6±3.8 kg were randomly allocated into one of three groups(n=12 in each group),and based on the group allocation,the gilts were fed at a frequency of one meal(T1),two meals(T2),or six meals per day(T6)for 14 consecutive weeks.The effects of the meal frequency on growth preference,nutrient utilization,short-chain fatty acid production by gut microbial,the post-meal dynamics in the metabolic status,reproductive hormone secretions,and ovarian follicular development in the gilts were measured.Results:The gilts in the T1 group presented a higher average daily gain(+48 g/d,P<0.05)and a higher body weight(+4.9 kg,P<0.05)than those in the T6 group.The meal frequency had no effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter,crude protein,ether extract,ash,and gross energy,with the exception that the T1 gilts exhibited a greater NDF digestibility than the T6 gilts(P<0.05).The nitrogen balance analysis revealed that the T1 gilts presented decreased urine excretion of nitrogen(−8.17 g/d,P<0.05)and higher nitrogen retention(+9.81 g/d,P<0.05),and thus exhibited higher nitrogen utilization than the T6 gilts.The time-course dynamics of glucose,α-amino nitrogen,urea,lactate,and insulin levels in serum revealed that the T1 group exhibited higher utilization of nutrients after a meal than the T2 or T6 gilts.The T1 gilts also had a higher acetate content and SCFAs in feces than the T6 gilts(P<0.05).The age,body weight and backfat thickness of the gilts at first estrous expression were not affected by the meal frequency,but the gilts in the T1 group had higher levels of serum luteinizing hormone on the 18th day of the 3rd estrus cycle and 17β-estradiol,a larger number of growing follicles and corpora lutea,and higher mRNA expression levels of genes related to follicular development on the 19th day of the 3rd estrus cycle.Conclusions:The current findings revealed the benefits of a lower meal frequency equal feed intake on nutrient utilization and reproductive function in replacement gilts,and thus provide new insights into the nutritional strategy for replacement gilts,and the dietary pattern for other mammals,such as humans.展开更多
Lutein,a type of carotenoids,is found to delay the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration(AMD).Several lutein supplementation studies showed that after an initial increase,lutein serum levels demons...Lutein,a type of carotenoids,is found to delay the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration(AMD).Several lutein supplementation studies showed that after an initial increase,lutein serum levels demonstrated a subsequent decrease despite continuous supplementation.In this systematic literature review,this obscure phenomenon was tried to be explained.The subsequent drop in lutein levels was postulated due to down-regulation of lutein receptors scavenger receptor class B typeⅠ(SR-BI)in the gastrointestinal tract,upregulation of lutein degrading enzymeβ-carotene dioxygenase(BCDO2),or perhaps a combination of both.Some single nucleotides polymorphisms(SNPs)that could have influence on the occurrence of this phenomenon.To date,an exact scientific explanation for this phenomenon has not been established.Further research is needed to investigate this phenomenon in depth to reach an irrefutable explanation,giving that lutein is proven to be effective in delaying the onset and progression of AMD and its metabolism in the human body becomes of equal importance.展开更多
The reproductive behaviors of birds are mainly controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.Many studies have shown that reproductive hormones are tightly linked to the breeding sub-stages.However,only a few st...The reproductive behaviors of birds are mainly controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.Many studies have shown that reproductive hormones are tightly linked to the breeding sub-stages.However,only a few studies have examined the temporal trend of hormone levels among different reproductive stages in multiple brooded species.We investigated the changes in plasma luteinizing hormone(LH)and prolactin(PRL)concentrations during different reproductive stages of the facultative double-brooded Great Tit(Parus major).We found that the concentrations of LH and PRL in females were significantly higher than those in males.Females had significantly higher LH and lower PRL concentrations in the pre-breeding period than in the first/second brooding periods,and there were no significant changes between the first and second brooding periods.The concentrations of LH and PRL in males had no significant difference between the pre-breeding period and the first brooding periods,while LH and PRL concentrations in the second brooding period were significantly higher than those in the first brooding period.We conclude that there are sex-based differences between LH and PRL at different stages of reproduction.The changes in LH and PRL in both males and females should be related to their physiological functions.Especially for males,individuals with higher levels of LH and PRL are more likely to maintain second clutches.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31801541)the Independent Innovation Fund Project of Agricultural Science and Technology in Jiangsu Province (CX (22)3065)+1 种基金Major Scientific and Technological Achievements Transformation Project of Taizhou (SCG 202105)the Taizhou Science and Technology Support Plan (TN202106)。
文摘In order to improve the bioavailability of lutein(LUT),a novel lutein-stevio side nanoparticle(LUT-STE)were prepared previously,but the information about LUT-STE on protecting of eye health was limited.This study investigated the effect of LUT-STE on antioxidant activity of H_(2)O_(2)-induced human retinal pigment epithelial(ARPE)cells.LUT and LUT-STE(final concentration of 5μg/mL)significantly enhanced cell viability from(74.84±5.10)%to(81.92±10.01)%(LUT)and(89.33±4.34)%(LUT-STE),and inhibited the cell apoptosis(P<0.05).After pretreatment with LUT-STE in ARPE cells,the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and glutathion peroxidase(GSH-Px)in ARPE cells were significantly increased(P<0.05),the contents of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were decreased.In addition,the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)levels were inhibited by 13.61%and 17.39%,respectively,pretreatment with LUT and LUT-STE.Western blotting results showed that the pretreatment with LUT-STE inhibited the expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and up-regulated Bcl-2/Bax pathway to inhibit H_(2)O_(2)-induced apoptosis.In summary,the novel delivery LUT-STE had more pronounced inhibitory effect on H_(2)O_(2)-induced damage in human ARPE cells.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31901996)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China (BK20190264)the Major Agricultural New Varieties Creation Project of Jiangsu Province,China (PZCZ201721)。
文摘Carotenoids are an important component of the human diet, and fruit is a primary source of carotenoids. The synthesis and regulation of carotenoids in fruit are important contributors to the formation of fruit quality. In China, strawberry is one of the main seasonal fruits grown in the winter. Previous studies have shown that light has a significant effect on the metabolism of anthocyanins, sugars, and polyphenols in strawberry. However, the understanding of the role of light in regulating the metabolism of carotenoids in strawberry remains limited. This study investigated the effects of blue, red, yellow-green, and white light on carotenoid metabolism in strawberry.Blue light treatment promoted the synthesis of multiple carotenoids, including lutein, compared with the other three treatment groups. The RNA sequencing data revealed that blue light treatment promoted the expression of lycopene ε-cyclase(LCYE), and the transient overexpression of LCYE in strawberry fruit promoted lutein accumulation in strawberry. Overall, the results suggest that blue light can promote the synthesis of lutein in strawberry by inducing the expression of LCYE.
基金supported by the Independent Innovation Fund Project of Agricultural Science and Technology in Jiangsu Province(Project No.CX(20)3047).
文摘In order to effectively deliver lutein to the inflamed colon and better exert its pharmacological activity,this paper constructed a sodium alginate hydrogel-based delivery system loaded with lutein nanoparticles,evaluated the regulation on the expression and secretion of related inflammatory factors in mice with colitis,and its impact on intestinal microbial environment.The results showed that comparing lutein crystal and its nanoparticle,lutein hydrogel alleviated dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced colitis in mice more effectively by adjusting fecal heme content,colon tissue damage,and inflammatory factor levels.Moreover,lutein hydrogel increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins zonula occluden-1(ZO-1),claudin-1 and occludin to maintain the integrity of the intestinal-barrier,inhibited the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway and reduced expression and secretion of inflammatory factors including tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),NOD-like receptors 3(NLRP3)and interleukin(IL)-1β.In addition,the intestinal microbial environment of mice with colitis was improved by down-regulating the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and up-regulating the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Rikenellaceae.As a slow-release carrier to load lutein nanoparticles,sodium alginate-based hydrogel has potential application prospect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31572166, 31772344, 31871691 and 31972444)。
文摘Marigold(Tagetes erecta L., African marigold) is a widely grown ornamental plant and a main source of the carotenoid lutein for the industrial production of pharmaceuticals, food coloring, and feed additives. To gain a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanism of lutein in marigold, a chromosome-scale assembly of the marigold(T. erecta V-01) genome was completed based on Illumina, PacBio, and Hi-C reads. The707.21-Mb assembled genome consisted of 35 834 annotated protein-coding genes, with 97.7% genomic integrity. We anchored 87.8% of the contigs(covering 621.20 Mb) to 12 pseudochromosomes, bringing the scaffold N50 length to 54.15 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis showed that marigold was closely related to the Asteraceae species bitter vine(Mikania micrantha) and sunflower(Helianthus annuus), all three of which originated in the Americas. Marigold diverged from the sunflower clade 23.57 million years ago(MYA) and from M. micrantha 19.59 MYA.Marigold has undergone three whole-genome duplication events, as well as a recent whole-genome duplication event(WGD-2) common to H.annuus and M. micrantha. Marigold gene families were significantly less expanded than those of M. micrantha or H. annuus, and the marigold genome contained significantly fewer interspersed repeats, which might account for its smaller genome. In addition, a range of candidate genes involved in the lutein biosynthetic pathway were identified. The high-quality reference genome obtained in this study provided a valuable genomic resource for studying the evolution of the Asteraceae family and for improving marigold breeding strategies.
文摘AIM:To compare the effect of vegetable oils on the uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin by adult retinal pigment epithelial(ARPE)-19 cells in vitro.METHODS:ARPE-19 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium-F-12 supplemented with 10%foetal bovine serum and 1%penicillin–streptomycin in a humidified 5%CO_(2) incubator maintained at 37℃.Cells were treated with 247μmol/L lutein,49μmol/L zeaxanthin and 1%(v/v)of either coconut oil,corn oil,peanut oil,olive oil,sunflower oil,soybean oil,castor oil,or linseed oil for 48h.Lutein and zeaxanthin concentration in the cells were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS:Among the oils tested,the highest lutein and zeaxanthin uptake was observed with coconut oil while the lowest was observed with linseed oil.CONCLUSION:ARPE-19 uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin are found to be dependent on the type of oils.
基金This work was supported by the Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology(KH0054).
文摘To clarify the characteristics of photoinhibition and the primary defense mechanisms of ephemeral plant leaves against photodestruction under high temperature stress,inhibitors and the technology to determine chlorophyll fluorescence were used to explore the protective effects of D1 protein turnover and the lutein cycle in the high temperature stress of the leaves of three ephemeral plants.The results showed that the maximum light conversion efficiency(Fv/Fm)of the ephemeral plant leaves decreased,and the initial fluorescence(Fo)increased under 35℃±1℃ heat stress for 1-4 h or on sunny days in the summer.Both Fv/Fm and Fo could be recovered after 8 h of darkness or afternoon weakening of the external temperature.Streptomycin sulfate(SM)or dithiothreitol(DTT)accelerated the decrease of Fv/Fm and the photochemical quenching coefficient(qP)in the leaves of three ephemeral plants at high temperature,and the decrease was greater in the SM than in the DTT treatment.When the high temperature stress was prolonged,the Y(II)values of light energy distribution parameters of PSII decreased,and the Y(NPQ)and Y(NO)values increased gradually in all the treatment groups of the three ephemeral plants.The results showed that the leaves of the three ephemeral plants had their own highly advanced mechanisms to protect against photodamage,which inhibited the turnover of D1 protein and xanthophyll cycle.This can damage the PSII reaction center in the leaves of the three ephemeral plants under high temperature.The protective effect of D1 protein turnover on heat stress in Erodium oxyrrhynchum and Senecio subdentatus was greater than that of the lutein cycle,while the protective effect of lutein cycle was greater than that of D1 protein turnover in Heliotropium acutiflorum subjected to heat damage.
文摘Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-comparative study healthy subjects were instructed to take one capsule of Eagle Eye Lutein 20 Vision Caps (Innomedis AG) per day with a meal for 6 months. MPV was measured with the MP-Eye system (AzulOptics) after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Mesopic vision (MV), glare sensitivity (GS) and contrast vision threshold (CVT) were measured with the Binoptometer 4P system (OCULUS Optikgeräte). Results: Twenty-three healthy subjects between 19 and 56 years were enrolled. A significant increase was observed in MPV (p Conclusions: The specially formulated food supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin induced a significant increase in MPV, and consequently an improvement in the visual function after 3 and 6 months in healthy subjects.
文摘Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a specially formulated food supplement containing 20 mg free lutein and 2.8 mg zeaxanthin on macular pigment volume (MPV) and visual function. Methods: In this prospective non-comparative study healthy subjects were instructed to take one capsule of Eagle Eye Lutein 20 Vision Caps (Innomedis AG) per day with a meal for 6 months. MPV was measured with the MP-Eye system (AzulOptics) after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Mesopic vision (MV), glare sensitivity (GS) and contrast vision threshold (CVT) were measured with the Binoptometer 4P system (OCULUS Optikgeräte). Results: Twenty-three healthy subjects between 19 and 56 years were enrolled. A significant increase was observed in MPV (p Conclusions: The specially formulated food supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin induced a significant increase in MPV, and consequently an improvement in the visual function after 3 and 6 months in healthy subjects.
文摘AIM: To compare serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin (L/Z) concentrations between patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and normal subjects,and to explore the effect of L/Z supplementation on serum L/Z level and visual function in NDR patients METHODS: Subjects were divided into three groups: 30 NDR patients supplied with Lutein 6mg/d and Zeaxanthin 0.5mg/d for three months (DR Group),30 NDR patients without L/Z supplementation (DR Control Group) and 30 normal subjects (Control Group).Serum L/Z concentrations were measured by liquid high-resolution chromatography (HPLC).Visual acuity was recorded at baseline,1 month,2 months and 3 months post initial supplementation.Serum L/Z concentration were measured at baseline,1 month and 2 months post initial supplementation.Contrast sensitivity (CS) and fovea thickness were recorded at baseline and 3 months post initial supplementation.RESULTS: Mean serum lutein concentrations in DR group were 0.0686±0.0296μg/mL and zeaxanthin concentration was 0.0137±0.0059μg/mL.The L/Z level of DR group was significantly lower compared to the control group( lutein: 0.2302±0.1308μg/mL,zeaxanthin: 0.0456±0.0266μg/m,P = 0.000).The concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in the DR control group at base line was 0.0714±0.0357μg/mL and 0.0119±0.0072μg/mL,respectively.There was no significant change of L/Z concentration in the DR control group during the study.Serum L/Z concentrations of DR group increased significantly after supplementation(F=109.124,P=0.000;F=219.207,P=0.000).Visual acuity improved significantly after medication.Compared with pre-medication,the average CS values of 1.5cpd,3cpd and 6cpd after three months increased significantly (P =0.030,0.013,0.008) and the foveal thickness decreased.(P =0.05) CONCLUSION: Serum L/Z concentrations in DR patients are significantly lower than those in normal subjects,and L/Z intake can improve the visual acuity,CS and macular edema in DR patients,suggesting that L/Z supplementation might be targeted as potential potential therapeutic agents in treating NDR.
文摘Lutein is an antioxidant that is deposited in the macular region of the eye and is crucial to macular function. Lutein is present in human milk and recently has been added to infant and toddler formulas. A method for the extraction and quantification of lutein from lutein-fortified infant formula and toddler milk products was developed. The lipids and carotenoids were extracted from the samples with ethanol and hexane:tetrahydrofuran. Polar xanthophylls were ex-tracted from the organic mixture with ethanol:water, leaving behind lipids and less polar carotenoids. The ethanol:water extracts were dried, reconstituted in mobile phase, and the lutein was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. A C30 carotenoid column and a mobile phase gradient of methyl-tert-butyl ether and methanol were used for the chromatographic separation. Validation data showed repeatability with relative stan-dard deviations < 4% and intermediate precision with relative standard deviations <20% at a low fortification level, 25 mcg lutein/L, and <12% at a high fortification level, 200 mcg lutein/L. Overall recoveries from sample matrix ranged from 88% to 106%. This liquid:liquid extraction method for the quantification of lutein in infant formulas is precise and accurate. Keywords: Lutein;carotenoid;infant formula;toddler milk;xanthophylls.
文摘AIM To investigate the therapeutic potential of two recombinant proteins, Survivin and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein [LHRH(6 leu)-LTB] for immunotherapy of breast cancer.METHODS Murine 4 T-1 breast cancer model was used to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant proteins in vivo. Twenty four Balb/c mice were divided into 4 groups of 6 mice each. Recombinant Survivin and LHRH fusion protein, alone or in combination, were administered along with immunomodulator Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) in Balb/c mice. Unimmunized or control group mice were administered with phosphate buffer saline. Each group was then challenged with syngeneic 4 T-1 cells to induce the growth of breast tumor. Tumor growth was monitored to evaluate the efficacy of immune-response in preventing the growth of cancer cells.RESULTS Preventive immunization with 20 μg recombinant Survivin and MIP was effective in suppressing growth of 4 T-1 mouse model of breast cancer (P = 0.04) but 50 μg dose was ineffective in suppressing tumor growth. However, combination of Survivin and LHRH fusion protein was more effective in suppressing tumor growth (P = 0.02) as well as metastasis in vivo in comparison to LHRH fusion protein as vaccine antigen alone.CONCLUSION Recombinant Survivin and MIP suppress tumor growth significantly. Combining LHRH fusion protein with Survivin and MIP enhances tumor suppressive effects marginally which provides evidence for recombinant Survivin and LHRH fusion protein as candidates for translating the combination cancer immunotherapy approaches.
基金Supported by Grants from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China,No.2010AA023003the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.NSFC-81172657
文摘AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of lutein against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and the related underlying mechanism.METHODS: After 9 d of acclimation to a constant temperature-controlled room(20 ℃-22 ℃) under 12h light/dark cycles,male Sprague-Darley rats were randomly divided into two groups and fed a standard commercial diet(n = 8) or a high-fat diet(HFD)(n = 32) for 10 d.Animals receiving HFD were then randomly divided into 4 groups and administered with 0,12.5,25,or 50 mg/kg(body weight) per day of lutein for the next 45 d.At the end of the experiment,the perinephric and abdominal adipose tissues of the rats were isolated and weighed.Additionally,serum and liver lipid metabolic condition parameters were measured,and liver function and insulin resistance state indexes were assessed.Liver samples were collected and stained with hematoxylin eosin and Oil Red O,and the expression of the key factors related to insulin signaling and lipid metabolism in the liver were detected using Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Our data showed that after being fed a high-fat diet for 10 d,the rats showed a significant gain in body weight,energy efficiency,and serum total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) levels.Lutein supplementation induced fat loss in rats fed a highfat diet,without influencing body weight or energy efficiency,and decreased serum TC and hepatic TC and TG levels.Moreover,lutein supplementation decreased hepatic levels of lipid accumulation and glutamic pyruvic transaminase content,and also improved insulin sensitivity.Lutein administration also increased the expression of key factors in hepatic insulin signaling,such as insulin receptor substrate-2,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,and glucose transporter-2 at the gene and protein levels.Furthermore,high-dose lutein increased the expression of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-α and sirtuin 1,which are associated with lipid metabolism and insulin signaling.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that lutein has positive effects on NAFLD via the modulation of hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance.
文摘AIM: To detect whether the combination of vincamine, thioctic acid and lutein will improve the retina and optic nerve functions in cases of an opaque media with an optic nerve and/or a retinal defect or not.METHODS: Totally 2000 patients(2000 eyes) of corneal opacities with defects in the optic nerve or/and the retinal functions were studied. Every patient received three types of drugs: thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, vincamine, and lutein. The drugs were given daily for 3-12 mo according to patient’s responses. Full field flash electroretinogram(ERG) and flash visual evoked potential(VEP) were done before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo sequentially. Patients were followed up for 12 mo.RESULTS: In the 2000 eyes, 1000 eyes had both moderate optic nerve and retinal function defects;and 840 eyes out of the 1000 improved with the medical treatment. Another 500 eyes out of the 2000 eyes had extinguished retinal function with normal optic nerve function and only 125 eyes of them improved. The 290 out of the 2000 eyes had severe defects in optic nerve with normal retinal function and 130 of them improved. Another 210 eyes have mild optic nerve and retinal function defects and 194 improved.CONCLUSION: The combination of vincamine, thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, and lutein improved both retina and optic nerve functions mainly in mild and moderate defect than in severe cases.
基金supported by Aier Eye Hospital Group,Nos.AF2019001 and AF2019002(to SBT,KFS,YX and XSM)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82074169(to XSM)+3 种基金Guangzhou Key Projects of Brain Science and Brain-Like Intelligence Technology of China,No.20200730009(to YX)Guangdong Grant Key Technologies for Treatment of Brain Disorders,China,No.2018B030332001(to YX)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China,No.2021A1515012473(to XSM)Project of Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province,No.20202045(to XSM)。
文摘Retinitis pigmentosa is a retinal disease characterized by photoreceptor degeneration.There is currently no effective treatment for retinitis pigmentosa.Although a mixture of lutein and other antioxidant agents has shown promising effects in protecting the retina from degeneration,the role of lutein alone remains unclear.In this study,we administered intragastric lutein to Pde6brd10 model mice,which display degeneration of retinal photoreceptors,on postnatal days 17(P17)to P25,when rod apoptosis reaches peak.Lutein at the optimal protective dose of 200 mg/kg promoted the survival of photoreceptors compared with vehicle control.Lutein increased rhodopsin expression in rod cells and opsin expression in cone cells,in line with an increased survival rate of photoreceptors.Functionally,lutein improved visual behavior,visual acuity,and retinal electroretinogram responses in Pde6brd10 mice.Mechanistically,lutein reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in Müller glial cells.The results of this study confirm the ability of lutein to postpone photoreceptor degeneration by reducing reactive gliosis of Müller cells in the retina and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jinan University(approval No.LACUC-20181217-02)on December 17,2018.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30910103916)the Key Project of the Science and Technology Program of Hainan,China(06122)
文摘Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone(LHRH) is known to influence sexual behavior in many vertebrate taxa,but there have been no systematic studies on the role of LHRH in sexual behavior of turtles.We tested the hypotheses that exogenous LHRH analogues would induce sexual behavior of male Four-eyed turtle,Sacalia quadriocellata.We examined this by challenging males with intramuscular injections of mammalian luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue(LHRH-A),human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG),or a combination of the two,and subsequently exposing them to sexually receptive females for behavioral observation.Our data show that the injection of only HCG could not,while that of only LHRH-A could,facilitate sexual behavior along with testicular recrudescence and spermatogenesis in S.quadriocellata.The injection of both LHRH-A and HCG would induce more drastic sexual behavior of the animals than that of LHRH-A alone,indicating HCG enhances the effects of LHRH-A induced sexual behavior.However,different pharmacological dosages of LHRH-A(0.5 g,1 g,2 g per 100 g bodyweight) did not correspond to different activity levels.Though the mechanism of LHRH effect was not determined,this study may support that the sexual behavior of S.quadriocellata which occurs at the beginning of the injection despite regression of the gonads.This is the first report on the exogenous LHRH-A induced sexual behavior for this species.
基金This study was supported by National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFD0501005)National Natural Science Foundation of China,PR China(31772616).
文摘Background:Replacement gilts are typically fed ad libitum,whereas emerging evidence from human and rodent studies has revealed that time-restricted access to food has health benefits.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of meal frequency on the metabolic status and ovarian follicular development in gilts.Methods:A total of 36 gilts(Landrace×Yorkshire)with an age of 150±3 d and a body weight of 77.6±3.8 kg were randomly allocated into one of three groups(n=12 in each group),and based on the group allocation,the gilts were fed at a frequency of one meal(T1),two meals(T2),or six meals per day(T6)for 14 consecutive weeks.The effects of the meal frequency on growth preference,nutrient utilization,short-chain fatty acid production by gut microbial,the post-meal dynamics in the metabolic status,reproductive hormone secretions,and ovarian follicular development in the gilts were measured.Results:The gilts in the T1 group presented a higher average daily gain(+48 g/d,P<0.05)and a higher body weight(+4.9 kg,P<0.05)than those in the T6 group.The meal frequency had no effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter,crude protein,ether extract,ash,and gross energy,with the exception that the T1 gilts exhibited a greater NDF digestibility than the T6 gilts(P<0.05).The nitrogen balance analysis revealed that the T1 gilts presented decreased urine excretion of nitrogen(−8.17 g/d,P<0.05)and higher nitrogen retention(+9.81 g/d,P<0.05),and thus exhibited higher nitrogen utilization than the T6 gilts.The time-course dynamics of glucose,α-amino nitrogen,urea,lactate,and insulin levels in serum revealed that the T1 group exhibited higher utilization of nutrients after a meal than the T2 or T6 gilts.The T1 gilts also had a higher acetate content and SCFAs in feces than the T6 gilts(P<0.05).The age,body weight and backfat thickness of the gilts at first estrous expression were not affected by the meal frequency,but the gilts in the T1 group had higher levels of serum luteinizing hormone on the 18th day of the 3rd estrus cycle and 17β-estradiol,a larger number of growing follicles and corpora lutea,and higher mRNA expression levels of genes related to follicular development on the 19th day of the 3rd estrus cycle.Conclusions:The current findings revealed the benefits of a lower meal frequency equal feed intake on nutrient utilization and reproductive function in replacement gilts,and thus provide new insights into the nutritional strategy for replacement gilts,and the dietary pattern for other mammals,such as humans.
基金Supported by DSR Scholarship Support,King Saud University。
文摘Lutein,a type of carotenoids,is found to delay the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration(AMD).Several lutein supplementation studies showed that after an initial increase,lutein serum levels demonstrated a subsequent decrease despite continuous supplementation.In this systematic literature review,this obscure phenomenon was tried to be explained.The subsequent drop in lutein levels was postulated due to down-regulation of lutein receptors scavenger receptor class B typeⅠ(SR-BI)in the gastrointestinal tract,upregulation of lutein degrading enzymeβ-carotene dioxygenase(BCDO2),or perhaps a combination of both.Some single nucleotides polymorphisms(SNPs)that could have influence on the occurrence of this phenomenon.To date,an exact scientific explanation for this phenomenon has not been established.Further research is needed to investigate this phenomenon in depth to reach an irrefutable explanation,giving that lutein is proven to be effective in delaying the onset and progression of AMD and its metabolism in the human body becomes of equal importance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31770419 and 31971402 to HW,32001094 and 31870368 to JY)
文摘The reproductive behaviors of birds are mainly controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.Many studies have shown that reproductive hormones are tightly linked to the breeding sub-stages.However,only a few studies have examined the temporal trend of hormone levels among different reproductive stages in multiple brooded species.We investigated the changes in plasma luteinizing hormone(LH)and prolactin(PRL)concentrations during different reproductive stages of the facultative double-brooded Great Tit(Parus major).We found that the concentrations of LH and PRL in females were significantly higher than those in males.Females had significantly higher LH and lower PRL concentrations in the pre-breeding period than in the first/second brooding periods,and there were no significant changes between the first and second brooding periods.The concentrations of LH and PRL in males had no significant difference between the pre-breeding period and the first brooding periods,while LH and PRL concentrations in the second brooding period were significantly higher than those in the first brooding period.We conclude that there are sex-based differences between LH and PRL at different stages of reproduction.The changes in LH and PRL in both males and females should be related to their physiological functions.Especially for males,individuals with higher levels of LH and PRL are more likely to maintain second clutches.
