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Introduction. Traditionally, mammalian adipose tissue is divided into white (white adipose tissue – WAT) and brown (brown adipose tissue – BAT). While the functions of WAT are well known as the triglyceride depot, the role of BAT in mammalian physiology has been under close investigation. The first description of the role of BAT in maintaining thermogenesis dates back to 1961. This article offers a review of structural and functional specificity of white, beige and brown adipose tissue. Results and discussion. The differences and descriptions of adipocytes and their impact on the maintenance of the main functions of the mammalian body are described in this manuscript. In particular, thermogenesis, stress response, obesity, type II diabetes. In addition to WAT and BAT, an intermediate form was also detected in the body – beige fat (BeAT or Brite). The opposite opinions regarding the presence of three types of adipose tissue in the human and animal bodies are presented. Studies on the identification of uncoupling proteins 1 and 3 and their role in the transformation of white fat into beige/brown are considered. Basically, the data on the factors of endogenous and exogenous nature on their formation are given on the example of the human body. Conclusion. With an abundance of publications on the keywords: “white, brown fat”, these studies, in the overwhelming majority, are devoted to the role of these fats in the formation of human thermogenesis, the assessment of the impact on obesity. Pigs have also been suggested to lack functional BAT, which is a major cause of neonatal death in the swine industry, therefore the focus on investigating role of different types of adipose tissue in pigs seems very promising in order to understand whether there is a compensating mechanism of thermogenesis.

Suspension cell culture of camel’s thorn Alhagi persarum Boiss. et Buhse was produced for the first time and its characteristics were determined under different growing conditions (flasks and bubble bioreactors with useful volume of 15 L). The obtained culture was notable for an intense growth (accumulation of dry biomass of 15–20 g/L, growth index of 11–16, and specific growth rate of 0.15 ± 0.01 d–1), with growth characteristics in bioreactors close to parameters observed in flasks. Qualitative composition of secondary metabolites in biomass of this cell culture grown in flasks was preliminarily examined by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). Isoflavones from different structural groups were detected: free isoflavones (an isomer of afrormosin), glycosides of isoflavones (glycosides of calycosin and formononetin), and acylated glycosides of isoflavones (malonyl glycosides of calycosin, formononetin, genistein, and the isomer of afrormosin). Extracts from biomass of A. рersarum suspension cell culture grown in flasks were tested for antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus АТСС 25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa АТСС 27853 were used as test cultures. Extracts showed a specific antimicrobial activity in respect to S. aureus but were inactive to P. aeruginosa. Thus, the obtained cell culture of A. persarum is a promising object for further examination with a potential of using as an alternative raw material and a source of biologically active compounds characteristic of this species.

The role of natural antioxidants in preventing of age-relating diseases is evident. The vegetable industry generates a large amount of waste, which is a good source of antioxidants. The aim of the study was the investigation of the antioxidant effect of long-term consumption of ethanolic yellow onion husk extract in ageing laboratory rodents. Twenty male Wistar albino rats were divided randomly into two groups (n = 10): a control group and an experimental group that received ethanolic yellow onion husk extract (2 mL/rat diluted with distilled water; activity of 4.44 µmol-equiv. quercetin) for 188 days. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays were used to determine the total antioxidant capacity of the extract, which amounted to 941.4 ± 32.7 µmol equiv. Trolox/g raw material and 167.4 ± 16.4 µmol-equiv. quercetin/g raw material, respectively. Oral intake of the onion husk extract affected the indicators of the antioxidant system of the liver and the brain but not of the blood and plasma, mainly due to elevations in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver by 44.4% and 79.1%, respectively, and in the brain by three-fold and 79.1%, respectively. The availability, cheapness and high antioxidant potential of onion waste qualifies it a good source of functional ingredients and bioactive substances applicable in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The research has been conducted in 3 biggest cemeteries of Chisinau city: Central (“Armenian”), “Saint Lazarus” (“Doina”) and Jewish. We found 9 species of small mammals (7 species of rodents and 2 shrews). Species of rodents were Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, A. uralensis, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus and 2 shrew species – Sorex araneus and Crocidura suaveolens. A.sylvaticus was dominant species, followed by M. rossiaemeridionalis and A. flavicollis.

The aim of the study is to evaluate protective properties of the quark product manufactured with transglutaminase and enriched with probiotics, oligomerous proanthocyanidines and vitamins; the biological experiment on the growing laboratory Wistar stock rats has been carried out. The rats of two from three groups subjected within 21 days to the effect of low-frequency weak variable magnetic field received in semi-synthetic diet composition extra experimental and control samples of the quark product. The index of feed intake and the rats’ body mass growth was registered within 32 days. At the end of the experiment blood serum biochemical index was evaluated. It was revealed that the animals consuming the experimental product substantially gained the mass before the effect (gain from the 1st up to 10th days made up 12%) as well as after effect (gain from 11th up to 32nd days – 10.3%); upon completion of the experiment the gains of these animals exceeded the gains of the rats consuming the control product by more than 28%. The experiment revealed the lipolipedemic and hypoglycemic effect of the experimental quark product that has been evidenced by the significant reduction of cholesterol (by more than 20%), glucose (up to 40%) in the rats’ blood serum. On administration of the experimental dairy product in the animals’ diet subjected to the impact of low-frequency weak magnetic field the effect of the broken balance recovery in antioxidant/pro-oxidant system was observed due to reduction of pro-oxidant load at the enzymatic as well as low molecular links of the antioxidant system. The identified antioxidant and adaptogenic effect of the developed dairy product promoting to reduce the intensity of free-radical oxidation at the impact of low-frequency electromagnetic field on the body make it possible recommend it in dietotherapy for correction of antioxidant/pro-oxidant status.

Background The most effective learning occurs during sensitive periods. Olfactory plasticity to main social olfactory cues is limited to a critical period to a large degree. The objective was to evaluate the influence of early olfactory experience on the behavioral and neuronal responses of males to con- and heterospecific odors of receptive females in two species, M. musculus (subspecies musculus, wagneri) and M. spicilegus, and thus to determine the potential role of epigenetic contribution in the formation of precopulatory isolation. Results Males were reciprocally cross-fostered shortly after the birth and were tested for response to con- and heterospecific urine odors of estrus females using two-choice tests at 70–85 days of age. Neuronal activity of non- and cross-fostered males was evaluated at 90–110 days of age in the MOB and AOB to con- and heterospecific female odor using fMRI (MEMRI). Non-cross-fostered males of three taxa demonstrated a strong preference for odor of conspecific females compared to odor of heterospecific ones. Spicilegus-nursed musculus preferred odor of heterospecific females. Wagneri-nursed spicilegus and spicilegus-nursed wagneri did not demonstrate significant choice of con - or heterospecific female odor. The level of MRI signal obtained from the evaluation of manganese accumulation in AOB neurons was significantly higher when the odor of conspecific estrus females was exposed, compared to urine exposure of heterospecific females. The response pattern changed to the opposite in males raised by heterospecific females. Response patterns of neuronal activity in the MOB to con- and heterospecific female odors were different in cross-fostered and control males. Conclusion The maternal environment, including odor, had a greater effect on the level of MRI signal in the AOB than the genetic relationships of the recipient and the donor of the odor stimulus. Behavioral and neuronal responses to con- and heterospecific odors changed in closely related Mus taxa as a result of early experience. We demonstrated the importance of early learning in mate choice in adulthood in mice and the possibility of epigenetic contribution in the formation of precopulatory reproductive isolation.

Based on results of fatty acid composition in serum of hyperlipidemic rats atherogenic index (AI) was calculated. The objects of the study were a commercial bioactive additive (BAA) containing a mixture of peptides isolated from the vessels of farm animals (Scientific and Production center of Revitalization and Health (SPRH), Russia), low molecular weight (LMUF), Mm

Functional foods promote health benefits in human metabolism, with bioactive compounds acting as therapeutic agents. The aim was to investigate the biological effects of a pâté made of pork hearts and aortas, minced, sterilised and packed in tins. Adults (61–66 years old) with a body mass index of 26.4–60.7 kg/m2 (n = 36) were randomly divided into two groups: one group consumed a low-calorie diet (LCD), while the other consumed an LCD with the developed meat product (MP) for 28–30 days. Serum biochemical parameters, anthropometry and blood pressure were measured. Consumption of an LCD + MP by experimental group participants helped to maintain reduced cholesterol levels. The difference in total cholesterol was significantly different (p = 0.018) from that of the control group, mainly due to the difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.005). Six peptides with potential cholesterol-binding properties and four peptides with potential antioxidant activity were identified in the MP, while elevation of the content of two peptides with potential angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory activity was detected in patients’ plasma. Intervention with the MP can be considered as a supportive therapy to the main treatment for medical cardiovascular diseases due to a positive effect on serum cholesterol.

Natural biopolymers are an interesting resource for edible films production, as they are environmentally friendly packaging materials. The possibilities of the application of main animal proteins and natural polysaccharides are considered in the review, including the sources, structure, and limitations of usage. The main ways for overcoming the limitations caused by the physico-chemical properties of biopolymers are also discussed, including composites approaches, plasticizers, and the addition of crosslinking agents. Approaches for the production of biopolymer-based films and coatings are classified according to wet and dried processes and considered depending on biopolymer types. The methods for mechanical, physico-chemical, hydration, and uniformity estimation of edible films are reviewed.

Dioscorea deltoidea is a medicinal plant valued for its high content of steroidal glycosides (SG) – bioactive compounds with cardioprotective and immunomodulation actions, also used to treat reproductive system disorders. To overcome the limitations of natural resources of this species, a suspension cell culture of D. deltoidea was developed as a renewable and ecologically sustainable source of raw biomass and SG. Cell culture demonstrated stable and intensive growth in the laboratory (20 L) and industrial (630 L) bioreactors operated under a semi-continuous regime (specific growth rate 0.11–1.12 day−1, growth index 3.5–3.7). Maximum dry weight accumulation (8.5–8.8 g/L) and SG content (47–57 mg/g DW) were recorded during the stationary phase. Bioreactor-produced cell biomass contained inorganic macro (К, Ca, Mg, Na) and micro (Zn, Mn, Fe, B, Al, Cu, Cr, Se, Co, Ni) elements in concentrations within the safe range of dietary recommendations. Acute toxicity test showed no or insignificant changes in organ weight, hematological panel and blood biochemistry of laboratory animals fed with 2000 and 5000 mg/kg dry biomass. The results suggest that cell culture of D. deltoidea grown in bioreactors has great potential to be used as functional foods and a component of specialized dietary supplements in complex therapy of reproductive system disorders and mineral deficiency.

Loss of food quality, deterioration of organoleptic properties and accumulation of anti-alimentary compounds are in focus of modern food science. Nowadays, such traditional methods as processing, physical and chemical treatment are used for improving of shelf life. An alternative ways of shelf life increasing are quite a sharp problem. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) could be an actual alternative. According to Antimicrobial Peptide Database (http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/main.php), 2884 antimicrobial peptides from six kingdoms were found and identified. Mucous membranes of farm animals due to their border position and intensive contact with different pathogens could be a capacious source of such substances. Objects of the study were bovine oral cavity mucosa, nasal cavity mucosa, tracheal cavity mucosa, rectal mucosa, tongue mucosa, saliva gland and submandibular lymph nodes. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) was performed according to the method of O'Farrell, 35 protein fractions were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and MS/MS mass spectrometry. A number of qualitative and quantitative differences were revealed. A large number of histones (H2bd-like, H2BC, HIST1H2BD, HIST2H2AC, HIST1H2AH, histone H3.3 and H2bl-like, HIST2H2AC and histone H3.3, mixture HIST1H2AJ, HIST2H2BE and histone H2A type 2-C) were found in all mucous membranes as well as several tissue-specific proteins (proteins S100-A12 and AGR2, isoforms of ribosomal proteins, myelin P2, odorant-binding protein, secretoglobin), which could be a precusors of bioactive peptides

Meat technological processing has a significant effect on the dynamics and depth of the oxidative processes. The study on the antioxidative activity of the extracts, obtained from the salted meat samples before and after the thermal treatment, was carried out in order to establish a mechanism of action of the main technological processes (meat salting and thermal treatment) on the oxidative changes. The subjects of the research were the samples of pork Longissimus dorsi muscles, which were minced and salted with sodium chloride in the amount of 0.0, 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0%. The antioxidative activity was determined by the rate of oxidation of reduced by oxygen form of 2.6-Dichlorophenolindophenol. The catalase activity was measured spectrophotometrically by the rate of hydrogen peroxide decomposition; the superoxide dismutase activity was measured by the rate of inhibition of the pyrogallol autoxidation; the glutathione peroxidase activity was measured by the rate of NADPH decomposition. The research was carried out at V.M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems of RAS (Russia). According to the study results, meat salting initiated a decrease in the meat antioxidative activity by 9.2-18.0% depending on the sodium chloride concentration. Meat salting with sodium chloride in the amount of 5.0% led to a decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase by 24.6%, catalase by 60.1% and superoxide dismutase by 33.7%. The correlation dependence between the antioxidative activity and catalase activities, as well as between superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was revealed: the absolute values of the correlation coefficients were 0.97, 0.99 and 0.94 respectively. In the conducted research a decrease in the meat antioxidative activity by 22.9-28.3% (р < 0.05) was recorded under the action of high temperatures (72 ± 2°С) as a result of catalase inactivation and catalase partial inactivation of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The thermal treatment neutralized the sodium chloride negative effect on the antioxidative activity and activity of the meat antioxidative enzymes (р > 0.05). The obtained results on a decrease in the antioxidative activity in the meat salting process justify the necessity to develop approaches that allow reducing the sodium chloride content in meat products in order to retard the oxidative changes without deterioration of product consumer characteristics

The article presents a comparative analysis of four methods for quantifying the protein-peptide complexes content in extracts obtained from animal raw materials, as well as the low- and highmolecular weight extract fractions: the direct spectrophotometric determination at wavelengths of 260 and 280 nm with subsequent calculation by the Kalckar formula; the biuret reaction by the Kingsley-Weichselbaum method; the method with Bradford reagent and the standard Lowry method. Experimental data analysis demonstrates that in case of the extract that contains protein-peptidic complexes in different molecular weights range, the Kingsley-Weichselbaum method shows the highest quality of protein concentration determination; while studying highmolecular weight fraction (more than 30 kDa), it is possible to obtain more information by combining the spectrophotometric method and the Kingsley-Weichselbaum method. Low-molecular weight fractions (less than 30 kD) should be investigated by complex methods including the spectrophotometric method, Lowry and Bradford methods. These methods make it possible to presumably estimate protein molecules size ranges (by amount of peptide bonds), and also to determine hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids presence.

The comparative study of Sus scrofa muscle tissue with different defects of quality was carried out. Such analysis methods as determination of water-binding capacity (WBC) and pH values, microstructural studies, proteome methods, mass spectrometric methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determine the concentration of cathepsin D, calpain 3 and myoglobin were applied in current study. DFD meat was characterized by high pH (6.2) and WBC (93.18%), while PSE - low pH (5.5) and WBC (79.19%). pH and WBC values in NOR pork was medium and averaged 5.9 and 92.05%, respectively. Microstructural studies revealed that fiber in exudative pork was the least and averaged 39.7 µm, normal pork was characterized by diameter of muscle of 45.5 µm, while DFD pork ‑ 48.3 µm. Protein composition of Sus scrofa muscle tissues were also investigated by one-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoresis. 6 protein fractions were identified by mass spectrometry and confirmed as potential biomarkers of pork quality defects in meat and processes meat product. It also has been shown that PSE pork contains 8 characteristic peptides, NOR - 14, DFD - 18. Cathepsin D, calpain 3 and myoglobin content were measured in pork of different categories. The highest content of cathepsin D, calpain 3 and myoglobin was noticed in PSE pork and averaged 82.16 ±3.30 ng.mL-1; 1.280 ±0.082 ng.mL-1; 3.973 ±0.506 ng.mL-1, respectively. Since the study was carried out on samples of meat 24 hours after slaughter, this work had the prospect to further study of meat with different defects of quality during long-term autolysis.

Slaughter products are good source of bioactive substances with different biological effects. Nowadays, approximately 220 functional peptides consisting of 2–10 amino acid residues have been identified. In this study, the biological activity of medium-molecular-weight substances (5–30 kDa, Mw) and low-molecular-weight substances (less than 5 kDa, Mw) extracted from aorta of Sus scrofa were investigated in vitro. Medium-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight fractions possessed a tissue specific effect on organotypic tissue cultures of chicken embryos and laboratory rats. Biological activity depended on molecular weight. Medium-molecular-weight fractions possessed higher effect on aortas explants of chicken embryo: area index of cellular monolayer was 56.6±5.2 % (area index of the monolayer was 37.47±3.27 % for low-molecularweight fraction) in comparison with control explants. The low-molecular-weight fractions stimulated aortic tissues explants of aging rats — area index exceeded area index formedium-molecularweight fractions by more than 30%.

Aims: The high sugar and lipid content of the Western diet (WD) is associated with metabolic dysfunction, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and it is an established risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders. Our previous studies reported negative effects of the WD on rodent emotionality, impulsivity, and sociability in adulthood. Here, we investigated the effect of the WD on motor coordination, novelty recognition, and affective behavior in mice as well as molecular and cellular endpoints in brain and peripheral tissues.Main methods: Female C57BL/6 J mice were fed the WD for three weeks and were investigated for glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, liver steatosis, and changes in motor coordination, object recognition, and despair behavior in the swim test. Lipids and liver injury markers, including aspartate-transaminase, alanine-transaminase and urea were measured in blood. Serotonin transporter (SERT) expression, the density of Iba1-positive cells and concentration of malondialdehyde were measured in brain.Key findings: WD-fed mice exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, a loss of motor coordination, deficits in novel object exploration and recognition, increased helplessness, dyslipidemia, as well as signs of a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-like syndrome: liver steatosis and increased liver injury markers. Importantly, these changes were accompanied by decreased SERT expression, elevated numbers of microglia cells and malondialdehyde levels in, and restricted to, the prefrontal cortex.Significance: The WD induces a spectrum of behaviors that are more reminiscent of ADHD and ASD than previously recognized and suggests that, in addition to the impairment of impulsivity and sociability, the consumption of a WD might be expected to exacerbate motor dysfunction that is also known to be associated with adult ADHD and ASD.

Reproductive function and postnatal progeny development of rats in four generations treated with deuterium depleted water (40 ppm) were investigated. The targeted generations were parent (F0), first (F1), second (F2) and third (F3). Replacement of tap water to deuterium depleted water did not influence on fertility index as well as on survival and postnatal offspring development. Reproductive function, physical parameters and reflexes development in rats and pups consumed DDW was similar or more intensive in comparison with control group. Therefore, DDW consumption did not possess any toxic effects and may enhance general postnatal development.

The aim of the study was to investigate the functional properties of extracts and utrafiltrates prepared from pig aorta tissues using Guinea pigs with an experimental atherosclerosis model to determine the possibility of their implementation against cardiovascular disorders. Serum total cholesterol content, atherogenic index (AI), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and residual cholesterol (VLDL, IDL) reduction was noted (44.1%, 43.7%, 43.7% and 79.5%, respectively) in animals treated with low-molecular weight ultrafiltrate (LMU). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations declined by 34.0% and 58.3% on average, respectively in animals treated with LMU.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aorta and heart tissues obtained from cattle and pigs on atherosclerosis disorders. Atherosclerosis model rats were provided with the respective diets consisting of aorta and heart tissues. Administration of each tissue suppressed body weight gain as compared to that of the control. In particular, the aorta tissues of pigs and cattle demonstrated significant suppressions in body weight gain in the model rats. The aorta tissues of pigs and cattle showed a significant increase and decrease in the serum high-density lipoproteins and atherogenic index, respectively, which was correlated with the increase in apolipoprotein A1. Hematological analysis revealed that aorta tissues of pigs and cattle clearly reduced the ratio of granulocytes/lymphocytes in the atherosclerosis rats. Serum vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in the atherosclerosis rats, which were administered these aorta tissues, were also significantly reduced. Additionally, there was an increase in von Willebrand factor in the rat serum. Based on the results obtained, the aorta tissues of pigs and cattle, in particular, demonstrated positive effects in the atherosclerosis rats due to the alteration of lipid metabolism and reduction in inflammation related to atherosclerosis.

Quantitative scores for 4 behavioural patterns, especially those of an antagonistic nature, were recorded from wild individual of Mus musculus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 living in semi-confinement in an outdoor enclosure divided into four pens. The enclosure was "permeable", in that mice were able to move between pens and between the enclosure and the outside. The population was monitored by the capture-mark-recapture method. In the spring of 1988 and 1989 the behaviour of mice trapped in the enclosure was studied in unisexual encounters in a neutral arena. There were no significant differences in scores for behaviour in relation to the degree of spatial separation of the places of capture of individuals paired together (except in the number of attempts to escape noted for females in 1989 and the total activity noted for males in 1988). Males and females did not differ significantly in scores for aggressive behaviour, but mice were more aggressive and more active in 1989 when the population in the enclosure was smaller, than in 1988, when it was larger.

To analyse craniological parameters of M. m. musculus and M. hortulanus, 14 measurements were taken, two indices were calculated, and three qualitative traits were considered. The material comprised 169 skulls of M. m. musculus captured in the European part of the U.S.S.R., in the central Ukraine, and in Poland, and 225 skulss of M. hortulanus captured in central and south-eastern Ukraine and Moldova.

Karyotypes of males of house mice were studied in European and Asiatic areas of USSR. They are differentiated according to Y‐chromosome morphology, two variants of which are discussed with respect to species‐diagnostic differences. A ≪large≫ variant regards the 19th pair of autosomes, most common in indoor as well as outdoor samples, including biochemically tested Mus musculus and M. m. domesticus. A substantially ≪small≫ variant was found , in wild short‐tailed mice only. The miniature Y‐chromosome was also detected during analysis of karyograms of M. spretus from the western Mediterranean. The three taxa with unique miniature Y‐chromosome seem to correspond to three subspecies, which were considered to be united in a separate species, Mus spicilegus. The possibility of using the new simple cytogenetic marker for diagnosis of. sympatric mice populations of two presumably distinct species, M. musculus and M. spialegus, and for historic reconstructions of their man‐related distribution is discussed.