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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glutamine supplementation or exercise on gastric emptying and intestinal inflammation in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC). Strength exercise consisted of jump training 4 × 10 repetitions/5 days a week/8 weeks with progressive overload. Endurance exercise consisted of swimming without overload for a period of 1 h a day/5 days a week/8 weeks. Another group (sedentary) of animals was supplemented with L-glutamine (1 g/kg of body weight) orally for 8 weeks before induction of UC. Colitis was induced by intra-colonic administration of 1 mL of 4% acetic acid. We assessed gastric emptying, macroscopic and microscopic scoring, oxidative stress markers, and IL-1β, IL-6, and (TNF-α) levels. The UC significantly increased (p < 0.05) the gastric emptying compared with the saline control group. We observed a significantly decrease (p < 0.05) in body weight gain in UC rats compared with the control groups. Both exercise interventions and L-glutamine supplementation significantly prevented (p < 0.05) weight loss compared with the UC group. Strength and endurance exercises significantly prevented (p < 0.05) the increase of microscopic scores and oxidative stress (p < 0.05). L-glutamine supplementation in UC rats prevented hemorrhagic damage and improved oxidative stress markers (p < 0.05). Strength and endurance exercises and glutamine decreased the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α compared with the UC group (p < 0.05). Strength and endurance exercises and L-glutamine supplementation prevented intestinal inflammation and improved cytokines and oxidative stress levels without altering gastric dysmotility in rats with UC.

Background: Periodontitis not only causes injury to the periodontium, but also damages other tissues such as: articulate, renal, cardiac, and hepatic. The objective of this study was to investigate periodontitis induced alterations in liver function and structure using an experimental model.Methods: Twenty female rats (Rattus norvegicus) were allocated into two groups: control and periodontitis. Gingival bleeding index and oxidative stress parameters and specific circulating biomarkers were measured. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using alkaline phosphatase (AlkP) staining of the liver. Hepatic tissues, cytokines, and lipid contents were measured. Histopathologic evaluation of the liver was carried out using light and electron microscopy.Results: Liver histopathologic and immunohistochemistry assessment showed increase in steatosis score, and presence of binucleate hepatocytes and positive cells for AlkP in periodontitis versus control group. Ultrastructural evaluation showed significant increase in size and number of lipid droplets (LD), distance between the cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), mitochondria size, foamy cytoplasm, and glycogen accumulation in the liver of the periodontitis group compared with the control group. In addition, plasma levels of AlkP, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol were also changed.Conclusion: Experimental periodontitis caused immunohistochemistry, histopathologic, ultrastructural, oxidative, and biochemical changes in the liver of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latex proteins from P. pudica (LPPp) have anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, LPPp was evaluated to protect animals against inflammatory ulcerative colitis (UC). UC was induced by intracolonic instillation of a 6% acetic acid solution and the animals received LPPp (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal route 1 h before and 17 h after acetic acid injection. Eighteen hours after instillation of acetic acid, the mice were euthanized and the colons were excised to determine the wet weight, macroscopic and microscopic lesion scores, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, IL1-β levels, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The results revealed that LPPp treatment (40 mg/kg) had a protective effect on acetic acid-induced colitis by reducing the wet weight, macroscopic and microscopic scores of intestinal lesions and colonic MPO activity. Additionally, LPPp inhibited tissue oxidative stress, since decreases in GSH consumption, MDA concentration and SOD activity were observed. The treatment with LPPp reduced the levels of cytokine IL-1β, contributing to the reduction of colon inflammation. Biochemical investigation showed that LPPp comprises a mixture of proteins containing proteinases, chitinases and proteinase inhibitors. These data suggest that LPPp has a protective effect against intestinal damage through mechanisms that involve the inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine release and oxidative stress. Unlabelled Image • Latex proteins from Plumeria pudica (LPPp) have protective effect against intestinal damage induced by acetic acid. • Mice treated with LPPp presented significant reduction in severity of macroscopic and microscopic intestinal damage. • The protective effect involves inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine release and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]