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Background Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a metalloenzyme that requires Cu as a cofactor and it is responsible for the formation of collagen and elastin cross-linking. The objective of this work was to measure the LOX enzyme activity in the heart of bovines with Cu deficiency induced by high molybdenum and sulfur levels in the diet. Methods Eighteen myocardial samples were obtained from Cu-deficient (n = 9) and control (n = 9) Holstein bovines during two similar assays. The samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −70 °C to measure enzymatic activity. A commercial kit was used, following producer instructions. Results The results showed that LOX activity from the hearts of Cu-deficient bovines is 29 % lower than the ones of control bovines, being this difference statistically significant (p = 0.03). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report that determined LOX enzymatic activity in bovine heart of Cu-deficient animals. The microscopic alterations found in these animals in our previous work, could be explained by a diminished LOX activity. The results are in agreement with other authors, who found a relationship between LOX activity and dietary Cu intake. The information provided by this work could help to clarify the pathogenesis of cardiac lesions in cattle with dietary Cu deficiency.

Aim: We evaluated the effect of thioredoxin1 (Trx1) system on postischemic ventricular and mitochondrial dysfunction using transgenic mice overexpressing cardiac Trx1 and a dominant negative (DN-Trx1) mutant (C32S/C35S) of Trx1. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to 15 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion (R). We measured left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP, mmHg), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP, mmHg), and t63 (relaxation index, msec). Mitochondrial respiration, SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB), and phospholamban phosphorylation (p-PLB) Thr17 expression (Western blot) were also evaluated. Results: At 30 min of reperfusion, Trx1 improved contractile state (LVDP: Trx1: 57.4 ± 4.9 vs. Wt: 27.1 ± 6.3 and DN-Trx1: 29.2 ± 7.1, p < 0.05); decreased myocardial stiffness (LVEDP: Wt: 24.5 ± 4.8 vs. Trx1: 11.8 ± 2.9, p < 0.05); and improved the isovolumic relaxation (t63: Wt: 63.3 ± 3.2 vs. Trx1: 51.4 ± 1.9, p < 0.05). DN-Trx1 mice aggravated the myocardial stiffness and isovolumic relaxation. Only the expression of p-PLB Thr17 increased at 1.5 min R in Wt and DN-Trx1 groups. At 30 min of reperfusion, state 3 mitochondrial O2 consumption was impaired by 13% in Wt and by 33% in DN-Trx1. ADP/O ratios for Wt and DN-Trx1 decrease by 25% and 28%, respectively; whereas the Trx1 does not change after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Interestingly, baseline values of complex I activity were increased in Trx1 mice; they were 24% and 47% higher than in Wt and DN-Trx1 mice, respectively (p < 0.01). Innovation and Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that Trx1 ameliorates the myocardial effects of I/R by improving the free radical-mediated damage in cardiac and mitochondrial function, opening the possibility of new therapeutic strategies in coronary artery disease. Fil: Perez, María Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina Fil: D'Anunzio, Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina Fil: Valdez, Laura Batriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Zaobornyj, Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Bombicino, Silvina Sonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Mazo, Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina Fil: Longo, Nadia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas ; Argentina Fil: Gironacci, Mariela Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas ; Argentina Fil: Boveris, Alberto Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Sadoshima, Junichi. Rutgers University; Estados Unidos Fil: Gelpi, Ricardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina

Copper deficiency is an important disease of cattle that produces several clinical signs and lesions, due to alterations in copper-dependent enzymes. One of the organs affected by this deficiency is the heart (falling disease), but nevertheless, these cardiac lesions have not been extensively studied in bovines. The aim of this work was to propose a possible pathogenic mechanism for cardiac lesions in cattle affected by copper deficiency. Because of the possible existence of oxidative distress caused by low levels of copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase and cytochrome oxidase, ultrastructural and histological lesions have been evaluated in the heart of bovines in which a Cu deficiency had been induced using high molybdenum and sulfur levels in the diet. Our results indicated that copper deficiency produces significant damage in myocardium with high levels of lipid oxidation and a significant reduction in copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase activity leading to an oxidative distress situation. However, cytochrome oxidase activity was not significantly reduced. Histological observation revealed a significant increase in the amount of connective tissue, enlarged basement membranes of myocytes, and numerous Anichkov cells, in the hearts of deficient animals. Ultrastructural observation showed a significant enhancement in the mitochondrial volume density, with presence of lesions such as swelling and cristae disruption. We conclude that copper deficiency in bovines causes morphological lesions in the heart due to an oxidative damage produced by copper-dependent enzyme alterations. Fil: Olivares, Roberto Walter Israel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Postma, Gabriela Cintia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Schapira, Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Iglesias, Dario Ezequiel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Valdez, Laura Batriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina Fil: Breininger, Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Gazzaneo, Pablo Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Minatel, Leonardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina

Previous results from our laboratory showed that NO inhibits complex III producing antimycin-like effects regarding to the enhancements of [UQH•]ss, [cyt. b2+], and O2•- and H2O2 productions. In this work, the effects of NO solution (obtained by bubbling NO gas; 10% in N2), on complex III enriched fraction -isolated from bovine heart- were studied. Complex III activity was hyperbolic inhibited by NO (IC50=225 nM). The absorbance spectra of complex III exposed to NO showed the characteristic peak of cyt. bH2+ (562 nm). In coupled mitochondria, 1 µM NO inhibited succinate-sustained state 3 O2 consumption (50%). Addition of HbO2 recovered O2 consumption by 90%; the remaining 10% was insensitive to NO scavenging, suggesting the blockage of complex III by NO. Moreover, mitochondria exposed to NO showed a less change in ΔΨ (30%) in the transition from state 4 to state 3 respiration, lowering ATP synthesis capacity. According to [UQH•]ss enhancement detected by EPR, H2O2 production rate was augmented (55%). Altogether, these results could be explained through a kinetic model which considers the interaction of NO with cyt. bH and, consequently, the inhibition of electron transfer between cytochromes b, the formation of UQH•, and the increase of O2•- and H2O2 production rates.

The aim was to study heart mitochondrial function in the early stages of Diabetes (DM) which was induced by a single dose of Streptozoticin (60 mg/kg, ip) in male Wistar rats. Glycemia was determined 72 h after injection (C: 129±7; DM: 456±34 mg/dl). Animals were sacrificed at day 10 and heart mitochondrial fraction was isolated. State 3 O2 consumption (11%), respiratory control ratios (17%), and complexes I-III (18%) and II-III (10%) activities were lower in diabetic than in control rats. Mitochondrial GSSG/GSH ratio was 10% higher in diabetic animals, indicating an imbalance in cellular redox state. Furthermore, linear correlations between the modified parameters and glycemia were observed, suggesting a close association between hyperglycemia and heart mitochondrial dysfunction. NO production rate was 22% higher in diabetic rats in accordance to the increase in mitochondrial NOS expression (79%). Heart mitochondrial mass and PGC-1α expression were similar in control and DM rats. To conclude, after 7 days of sustained hyperglycemia, heart mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in which NO production and mtNOS expression are significantly increased but mitochondrial biogenesis is not triggered yet, suggesting that mitochondrial NO is upstream de novo synthesis of mitochondria.

Copper (Cu) deficiency increases occurrence of certain infectious diseases in animals, including infectious keratoconjunctivitis in bovines, a bacterial ocular inflammation caused by Moraxella bovis. Neutrophil leukocytes constitute the first phagocytic cells to arrive at infection sites for bacterial neutralization. The objective of this work was to evaluate whether the functionality of neutrophils against M. bovis is impaired in experimentally induced Cu deficiency in bovines using high molybdenum and sulfur levels in the diet. The Cu tissue values and the periocular achromotrichia observed in +Mo animals showed that the clinic phase of Cu deficiency was reached in this group. Instead, +Cu animals have not evidenced clinical signs or biochemical parameters of hypocuprosis. On the basis of our observations, we concluded that Cu deficiency has no effect on phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils against M. bovis. However, superoxide dismutase activity and peroxide hydrogen generation were significantly different between groups. Therefore, additional research to explain these results is merited to fully characterize the consequences of Cu status on the risk for infections under field conditions.