RESUMEN
In this study, clonal lines from North American resident and migratory populations of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss adapted to different geographical conditions and with different domestication histories were characterized morphologically. Lines reared in a common-garden experiment were characterized for external shape and meristic values, searching for a general pattern of morphological variation due to exposure to captive conditions. A sharp distinction was identified between wild and captive lines. The body profile was deeper in captive lines, with longer dorsal and anal fins and shorter and deeper caudal peduncles. Highly significant differences were also identified in meristic values among the lines but no consistent relation between meristic values and domestication status was detected. This morphological characterization will facilitate the selection of lines with divergent phenotypes for subsequent quantitative trait loci analysis, aimed at identifying genome regions linked with morphological adaptive response to captive conditions.
Asunto(s)
Animales Domésticos/anatomía & histología , Oncorhynchus mykiss/anatomía & histología , Oncorhynchus mykiss/fisiología , Animales , Explotaciones Pesqueras , Oncorhynchus mykiss/genética , Oncorhynchus mykiss/crecimiento & desarrollo , Fenotipo , Análisis de Componente PrincipalRESUMEN
Osteoarthritis (OA) is very disabling condition in the elderly. The current therapeutic approaches (analgesics, NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, steroids) do not delay the OA progression or reverse joint damage. Moreover, they may cause relevant systemic side effects. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a physiologic component of the synovial fluid and is reduced in OA joints. Therefore, intra-articular injection of HA, due to its viscoelastic properties and protective effect on articular cartilage and soft tissue surfaces of joints, can restore the normal articular homoeostasis. These effects are evident when HA is properly administered into the articular space; therefore, the use of "image-guided" infiltration techniques is mandatory. Viscosupplementation (VS), with different HA preparations (Low and High molecular weight), can be considered when the patient has not found pain relief from other therapies or is intolerant to analgesics or NSAIDs. A 3-5 doses regimen is usually recommended with 1 week interval between each injection. Several studies have shown the efficacy of HA for the treatment of knee OA, with positive effects on pain, articular function (Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC], Lequesne Index [LI], Range of Motion [ROM]), subjective global assessment and reduction in NSAIDs consumption. In general, the benefit is evident within 3 months and persists in the following 6-12 months. Encouraging but inconclusive results have also been observed for the treatment of shoulder, carpo-metacarpal, hip and ankle OA. However there is the need of better designed studies to prove the effectiveness of these medications, in order to rule out a placebo effect. The therapy is well tolerated with absence of systemic side effects and only with limited local discomfort.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/patología , Ácido Hialurónico/administración & dosificación , Osteoartritis/tratamiento farmacológico , Viscosuplementación/métodos , Anciano , Envejecimiento/efectos de los fármacos , Ensayos Clínicos como Asunto/métodos , Humanos , Ácido Hialurónico/uso terapéutico , Inyecciones Intraarticulares , Osteoartritis/diagnóstico por imagen , Resultado del Tratamiento , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
A single-step separation of calf lens gamma-crystallin into six protein components is described. UV absorption spectra, characterized by the presence of high absorbance in the 240-250 nm and 310-360 nm spectral regions as well as by fluorescence emission above 400 nm, are shown by six components. alpha-, beta and beta S crystallins have been compared with the gamma-fraction for the presence of non-tryptophan fluorescence. The chromophores responsible for this non-tryptophan fluorescence were found to be associated with gamma-crystallin components only. The spectral features of one selected gamma-crystallin component (characterized by an isoelectric point of 7.68) have been examined. Results seem to suggest the presence of oxidative products of tryptophan. Implications of these findings for the expression of human and bovine genes are also considered.
Asunto(s)
Cristalinas , Cristalino/análisis , Animales , Bovinos , Punto Isoeléctrico , Peso Molecular , Espectrometría de Fluorescencia , Espectrofotometría Ultravioleta , TriptófanoRESUMEN
alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins have been purified from nonpathological lenses of calves. The pure proteins have been examined for nontryptophan fluorescence and fluorescent compounds have been found specifically bound to gamma 2-crystallin. The protein has been unfolded by 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) and a separation of the fluorescent compounds has been obtained by gel chromatography in the presence of 6 M Gdn-HCl. The spectroscopic features (absorbance, fluorescence) of the protein returned to normal following removal of the chromophores. The low-molecular-weight separated fluorescent compounds have been fractionated and extracted from the Gdn-HCl solution by ethyl acetate. TLC chromatography has shown the presence of kynurenine, 3-OH-kynurenine, and free tryptophan. These data suggest that direct involvement of the intrinsic protein tryptophans in the photochemical processes leading to formation of fluorescent compounds has to be excluded. Free tryptophan and intrinsic metabolic factors are probably more relevant in determining the cataractous insult.
Asunto(s)
Cristalinas , Animales , Bovinos , Cristalinas/aislamiento & purificación , Espectrometría de Fluorescencia , Espectrofotometría Ultravioleta , Análisis Espectral , TriptófanoRESUMEN
A macromolecule binding 3H-methylcholanthrene (3H-MCA) and 3H-benzo(a)pyrene (3H-BaP) and sedimenting in the 4-5 S region of sucrose gradient (4.5 S) was identified in rat liver cytosol. The binding was displaced by 100-fold molar excess unlabeled ligands whereas 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was ineffective. The dissociation constant for both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was of the order of 10(-8) M or lower. Both 3H-MCA and 3H-BaP bound to 4.5 S in a non covalent manner, since 92% of the bound radioactivity was extractable with ethyl ether. Furthermore the binding was strongly reduced by urea 8 M and by guanidine. HCl 4 M (99 and 70% respectively). Thin layer chromatography of the ethyl ether-solubilized radioactivity showed a peak comigrating with PAHs used as standards. When chromatographed on Sephadex G-200, 4.5 S was eluted as a sharp peak with an apparent molecular weight of 50-60,000 daltons. Enzyme treatment of liver cytosol showed that the 4.5 S binding sites were destroyed by micrococcal nuclease (92% of inhibition). Papain and phosphodiesterase I and II reduced the binding to 50%, whereas DNase I, DNase II, RNase, phospholipase A2 and C and trypsin were ineffective. These data suggest that the PAHs binding macromolecule of rat liver cytosol is a protein associated with a polynucleotide. The binding of both PAHs was enhanced by increasing the incubation temperature, the maximum being reached after 20-30 min at 37 degrees C. After 2.5 min at 65 degrees C, binding sites were completely destroyed. The same temperature-induced "activation" was obtained also by prewarming the cytosol at 37 degrees C in the absence of ligands.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Portadoras/análisis , Nucleoproteínas/metabolismo , Compuestos Policíclicos/metabolismo , Temperatura , Animales , Benzo(a)pireno/metabolismo , Cromatografía en Gel , Citosol/análisis , Femenino , Metilcolantreno/metabolismo , Nucleoproteínas/análisis , Dibenzodioxinas Policloradas/farmacología , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas , TritioRESUMEN
In vitro experimental evidence suggests tryptophan (TRP) is involved in protein modifications which could cause cataract formation in vivo. Previous studies of tryptophan plasma and serum metabolism are conflicting. In this study free and bound TRP plasma levels were measured in patients with senile cataract and in controls after an oral load of L-TRP (20 mg/kg b.w.). Free TRP levels were higher in patients than in controls one hour after L-TRP administration.