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The effects of n-acetyl cysteine (NAC), s-allyl cysteine (SAC), s-ethyl cysteine, s-methyl cysteine and s-propyl cysteine (SPC) activity on Balb/cA mice against diabetic complications were examined. These complications included hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, oxidation stress, blood coagulation, and cytokine imbalance. To induce diabetes, mice were treated with streptozotocin i.p. for 5 consecutive days. Five cysteine-containing compounds at 1 g/L were added to the drinking water. After intake of the 5 cysteine-containing agents for 4 wk, body weight loss, plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin, and fibronectin levels were improved (P < 0.05) in diabetic mice. The administration of these agents restored the glutathione level (P < 0.05), reduced the loss of catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in kidney and liver (P < 0.05), and decreased glucose-induced lipid oxidation, as assessed by malondialdehyde formation (P < 0.05). In all diabetic mice, the intake of these agents reduced triglyceride levels in plasma and liver (P < 0.05); however, only NAC, SAC and SPC treatments reduced cholesterol level in liver (P < 0.05). These cysteine-containing agents elevated the activity of 2 fibrinolytic factors, protein C and antithrombin III (P < 0.05). The overexpression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in diabetic mice was suppressed by the intake of the 5 cysteine-containing agents (P < 0.05). Via their antioxidant activities, the 5 compounds effectively improved glycemic control, delayed oxidation damage, downregulated inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced anticoagulant activity in diabetic mice. These data support the multiple roles of these agents as potential protective agents for delaying diabetic deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol was used to induce acute hepatotoxicity in mice. Effects of cinnamic acid (CA) and syringic acid (SA) post-intake for hepatic recovery from alcoholic injury was investigated. Ethanol treated mice were supplied by CA or SA at 40 or 80 mg/kg BW/day for 5 days. Results showed that ethanol stimulated protein expression of CYP2E1, p47 phox , gp91 phox , cyclooxygenase-2 and nuclear factor kappa B in liver. CA or SA post-intake restricted hepatic expression of these molecules. Ethanol suppressed nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) expression, and CA or SA enhanced Nrf2 expression in cytosolic and nuclear fractions. Ethanol increased the release of reactive oxygen species, oxidized glutathione, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric acid and prostaglandin E 2 . CA or SA lowered hepatic production of these oxidative and inflammatory factors. Histological data revealed that ethanol administration caused obvious foci of inflammatory cell infiltration, and CA or SA post-intake improved hepatic inflammatory infiltration. These findings support that cinnamic acid and syringic acid are potent nutraceutical agents for acute alcoholic liver disease therapy. However, potential additive or synergistic benefits of cinnamic and syringic acids against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity need to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological maturation-inducing steroid (MIS) in the marine protandrous yellowfin porgy (Acanthopagrus latus). Female fish were injected with 2 doses of LHRH analog (10 and 40μg per kg). Ovarian tissue was obtained at 6h intervals for in vitro analysis of oocyte maturation. The most effective steroids for inducing in vitro maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown and GVBD) in cultured oocytes were 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP) and 17,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20β-S). 17,20βP was less potent than 20βS in inducing oocyte maturation. At higher concentrations, 11-deoxycortisol, 17α-hydroxy-progesterone, and 20β-21-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one also significantly induced oocyte maturation. A tritiated precursor [3H]-pregnenolone, was cultured in vitro together with the maturing ovarian tissue. The tritiated metabolites were purified and identified by solvent extraction, HPLC, TLC, acetylation reaction and recrystallization. HPLC, TLC and recrystallization analysis showed that significant levels of tritiated 11-deoxycortisol (a precursor of 20β-S) and 20β-S, but not 17,20βP, were biosynthesized from [3H]-pregnenolone. Similar TLC profiles were obtained from the tritiated products that were isolated from the HPLC/TLC 20β-S fraction and standard 20β-S after the acetylation reaction. Constant specific radioactivity of tritiated 11-deoxycortisol and 20β-S but not 17,20βP by recrystallization was obtained in the tritiated metabolites isolated from HPLC and TLC fractions. The expression of 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β−HSD) mRNA (a key enzyme that converts 11-deoxycortisol to 20β-S) was significantly increased in maturing ovarian tissue. This study provides the first evidence that 20β-S is converted from 11-deoxycortisol and is the possible MIS in yellowfin porgy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]