Search

Introduction Obesity has become a prevalent pathology, especially in the developed world, being associated with the activation of numerous pathophysiologic mechanisms which may lead to cardiovascular diseases. Objective Our study aimed at assessing cardiac function in a rat model of heart failure and obesity. Methods Sprague-Dawley male rats (wild type, WT) and transgenic rats overexpressing β3-adrenergic receptors in endothelial cells (TGβ3) were either fed with standard diet (WT + SD, n = 12; TGβ3 + SD, n = 12) or with hypercaloric diet (SD + HD, n = 12; TGβ3 + HD, n = 12). For 35 weeks body-weight (BW), systolic blood pressure (SBP), echocardiographic structural and functional parameters were monitored. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed. Results HD induced an increase in BW in HD groups (∼10.08% for WT and ∼10.45% for TGβ3) since week 10 (W10), trend maintained until the end of the study. Regardless of WT or TGβ3 status, SBP (mmHg) was significantly increased by HD (∼12%), as measured at W35. Also, in the HD groups, hyperglycemia during OGTT was observed, suggesting insulinoresistance. Starting with W25, a decrease in early-to-late filing ratio (E/A ratio) in TGβ3 + HD vs. TGβ3 + SD was observed (0.97 ± 0.04 vs. 1.11 ± 0.07), while for WT + HD vs. WT + SD, reduction occurred at W35 (0.99 ± 0.06 vs. 1.25 ± 0.05). E’/A’ ratio followed the same trend, at W25: TGβ3 + HD vs. TGβ3 + SD (0.93 ± 0.05 vs. 1.07 ± 0.05), at W35: WT + HD vs. WT + SD (0.99 ± 0.06 vs. 1.19 ± 0.04). At W35, no significant change was registered in ejection fraction (%) between all groups (∼63%), suggesting no systolic dysfunction at this timepoint. Conclusions HD increased BW, SBP and glycemia. Alteration of diastolic function occurs at around W35 in obese WT rats, whereas in obese TGβ3 rats diastolic function alteration occurred earlier (W25).

In the past 20 years the study of goat caseins genetic polymorphisms received a considerable research interest. In particular the researches were focused on CSN1S1 locus which is the most polymorphic, 17 alleles being known so far. These alleles are associated with four different levels of protein synthesis, affecting significantly goat milk quality and its technological properties. In this context the present review is describing recent literature data at international and national level, which allow the understanding of goat milk quality variation in relation with its physical-chemical characteristics, milk protein genetic polymorphisms and physiological factors. We also describe the current stage of researches concerning the use of milk protein polymorphisms in identifying possible adulterations from dairy industry and also studies on milk allergenic potency.

In this paper we describe the characterization at the protein level of αS1-casein I RV allele discovered in Romanian Grey Steppe Cattle Moldavian variety, an autochthon Bos Taurus Primigenius breed belonging Grey cattle family. In order to identify the aminoacid/s substitution/s, responsible/s for the appearance of this new αS1 variant, milk samples, collected from 2 cows previously identified as carriers of mutant αS1 allele in heterozygous condition (BIRV, CIRV) and 2 reference samples (BB,CC), were purified by RP-HPLC. After purification, αS1-casein fraction collected from each sample was submitted to hydrolysis and tryptic hydrolysates were analyzed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-Tof and Orbitrap). The only possible substitution found is concerning the glutamine (Q) residue codified by codons from exons 8, 9 or 11. This is under study also at DNA level. This discovery could clarify the phylogenetic relationships between Romanian Grey Steppe Cattle, Moldavian Variety (autochthon Bos Taurus Primigenius) and their cousins from Africa and Asia.