scholarly journals Diets derived from maize monoculture cause maternal infanticides in the endangered European hamster due to a vitamin B3 deficiency

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1847) ◽  
pp. 20162168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde L. Tissier ◽  
Yves Handrich ◽  
Odeline Dallongeville ◽  
Jean-Patrice Robin ◽  
Caroline Habold
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Nutritional Properties ◽  
Pesticide Toxicity ◽  
Animal Reproduction ◽  
Vitamin B3 Deficiency

From 1735 to 1940, maize-based diets led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people from pellagra, a complex disease caused by tryptophan and vitamin B3 deficiencies. The current cereal monoculture trend restricts farmland animals to similarly monotonous diets. However, few studies have distinguished the effects of crop nutritional properties on the reproduction of these species from those of other detrimental factors such as pesticide toxicity or agricultural ploughing. This study shows that maize-based diets cause high rates of maternal infanticides in the European hamster, a farmland species on the verge of extinction in Western Europe. Vitamin B3 supplementation is shown to effectively restore reproductive success in maize-fed females. This study pinpoints how nutritional deficiencies caused by maize monoculture could affect farmland animal reproduction and hence their fitness.

scholarly journals Sustainable Agriculture: Nutritional Benefits of Wheat–Soybean and Maize–Sunflower Associations for Hibernation and Reproduction of Endangered Common Hamsters

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13521
Author(s):  
Mathilde Louise Tissier ◽  
Florian Kletty ◽  
Jean-Patrice Robin ◽  
Caroline Habold
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Common Hamster ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Vitamin B3 Deficiency ◽  
Nutritional Benefits

Farmland species face many threats, including habitat loss and malnutrition during key periods of their life cycle. This is aggravated in conventionally managed monocultures, leading to nutrient deficiencies that impair the survival and reproduction of farmland wildlife. For instance, protein deficiencies in wheat or vitamin B3 deficiency in maize reduce by up to 87% the reproductive success of the critically endangered common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), a flagship species of European farmlands. It is urgent to identify and implement agricultural practices that can overcome these deficiencies and help restoring hamsters’ reproductive success. As part of a conservation program to diversify farming habitats in collaboration with farmers, we tested whether associations between wheat or maize and three supplemental crops (soybean, sunflower and fodder radish) supported hamsters’ performance during hibernation and reproduction. We observed that maize–sunflower, maize–radish and wheat–soybean associations minimized hamsters’ body mass loss during hibernation. The wheat–soybean association led to the highest reproductive success (N = 2 litters of 4.5 ± 0.7 pups with a 100% survival rate to weaning), followed by maize–sunflower and maize–radish. These crop associations offer promising opportunities to overcome nutritional deficiencies caused by cereal monocultures. Their agronomic potential should promote their implementation on a large scale and benefit farmland biodiversity beyond the common hamster.

scholarly journals Determination of Vitamin B3 Vitamer (Nicotinamide) and Vitamin B6 Vitamers in Human Hair Using LC-MS/MS

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4487
Author(s):  
Sundus M. Sallabi ◽  
Aishah Alhmoudi ◽  
Manal Alshekaili ◽  
Iltaf Shah
Keyword(s):  
Human Hair ◽  
Vitamin B6 ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Reversed Phase ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Pyridoxal Hydrochloride ◽  
Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Water-soluble B vitamins participate in numerous crucial metabolic reactions and are critical for maintaining our health. Vitamin B deficiencies cause many different types of diseases, such as dementia, anaemia, cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and HIV. Vitamin B3 deficiency is linked to pellagra and cancer, while niacin (or nicotinic acid) lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL). A highly sensitive and robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy (LC/MS-MS) method was developed to detect and quantify a vitamin B3 vitamer (nicotinamide) and vitamin B6 vitamers (pyridoxial 5′-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal hydrochloride (PL), pyridoxamine dihydrochloride (PM), pridoxamine-5′-phosphate (PMP), and pyridoxine hydrochloride (PN)) in human hair samples of the UAE population. Forty students’ volunteers took part in the study and donated their hair samples. The analytes were extracted and then separated using a reversed-phase Poroshell EC-C18 column, eluted using two mobile phases, and quantified using LC/MS-MS system. The method was validated in human hair using parameters such as linearity, intra- and inter-day accuracy, and precision and recovery. The method was then used to detect vitamin B3 and B6 vitamers in the human hair samples. Of all the vitamin B3 and B6 vitamers tested, only nicotinamide was detected and quantified in human hair. Of the 40 samples analysed, 12 were in the range 100–200 pg/mg, 15 in the range 200–500 pg/mg, 9 in the range of 500–4000 pg/mg. The LC/MS-MS method is effective, sensitive, and robust for the detection of vitamin B3 and its vitamer nicotinamide in human hair samples. This developed hair test can be used in clinical examination to complement blood and urine tests for the long-term deficiency, detection, and quantification of nicotinamide.

scholarly journals The female mouse is resistant to mild vitamin B3 deficiency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge van der Stelt ◽  
Wenbiao Shi ◽  
Melissa Bekkenkamp-Grovenstein ◽  
Rubén Zapata-Pérez ◽  
Riekelt H. Houtkooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Control Female ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
Triacylglycerol Metabolism ◽  
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Abstract Purpose Vitamin B3 provides nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential coenzyme in oxidoreductase reactions. Severe vitamin B3 deficiency leads to the disease Pellagra, while mild vitamin B3 deficiency has been linked to age-related and metabolic diseases. Mild vitamin B3 deficiency is understudied, especially in females. Therefore, we examined how female mice responded to a diet that induced mild vitamin B3 deficiency in male mice. Methods Female C57BL/6RccHsd mice were subjected for 18 weeks to a diet without vitamin B3 and low but sufficient tryptophan (0.115%) (0NR) and were compared to control female mice on the same diet with the reference dose of vitamin B3 (30NR, 30 mg nicotinamide riboside/ kg diet). Results In the female mice, no differences between the two dietary groups were found in liver nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) levels, body composition, whole body energy and substrate metabolism measured by indirect calorimetry, or liver triacylglycerol metabolism. Expression of seven genes that previously were shown to respond to mild vitamin B3 deficiency in male white adipose tissue were not differentially expressed between the female dietary groups, neither was insulin sensitivity. Conclusion We concluded that the female 0NR mice were not vitamin B3 deficient; the role of age, sex and health status is discussed. Demonstrated by clear differences between females and males, the latter showing mild deficiency under the same conditions, this study highlights the importance of studying both sexes.

scholarly journals Relationship between agricultural pesticides and the diet of riparian spiders in the field

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadin Graf ◽  
Karina P. Battes ◽  
Mirela Cimpean ◽  
Martin H. Entling ◽  
Katharina Frisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Riparian Habitat ◽  
Pesticide Toxicity ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
Orb Web

Abstract Background Examining the effects of pesticides is difficult in regions such as Western Europe because of the relatively ubiquitous use of agrochemicals and the lack of unaffected areas. To study a wide gradient of agrochemical stress, we conducted a study in Central Romania, where traditional agriculture, which is assumed to use less agrochemicals, exists adjacent to intensive agriculture. We investigated potential effects of land use related stressors including pesticides on aquatic–terrestrial predator–prey relationships using stable isotope analysis. Therefore, we sampled spiders, as well as their aquatic and terrestrial prey along streams with a pesticide pollution gradient and determined spider and prey stable carbon and nitrogen signals. Results Aquatic prey contributed 40.8–55.4% to the diet of the orb web weaving spider Tetragnatha sp. and 34.0–53.0% to the diet of the ground-hunting Pardosa sp. The biomass of potential aquatic prey increased along a gradient of increasing riparian habitat conditions and water quality and decreasing agriculture (e.g. arable land) in the catchment. The proportion of aquatic prey in the orb web weavers diet responded positively to the biomass of potential aquatic prey and negatively to this gradient. Increasing potential prey biomass resulted in an increasing proportion of aquatic prey for the orb web weaver. The proportion of aquatic prey in the ground hunters diet increased with in-stream pesticide toxicity and along a gradient of increasing pastoralism in the catchment as well as increasing riparian habitat and water quality. Conclusion The diet of two riparian predators responded to complex gradients of catchment land use, stream and riparian habitat quality as well as to in-stream pesticide toxicity. The responses to the different environmental variables can be attributed to direct (e.g. change in spider community) and indirect (e.g. changes in aquatic prey and terrestrial prey) effects. Future manipulative field studies or experiments on aquatic–terrestrial food webs are required to examine the causality of our findings and should also consider the quality of prey organisms to foster mechanistic understanding of cross-ecosystem effects.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-202 (miR-202) controls female fecundity by regulating medaka oogenesis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Gay ◽  
Jérôme Bugeon ◽  
Amine Bouchareb ◽  
Laure Henry ◽  
Jérôme Montfort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Animal Reproduction ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

ABSTRACTFemale gamete production relies on coordinated molecular and cellular processes that occur in the ovary throughout oogenesis. In fish, as in other vertebrates, these processes have been extensively studied both in terms of endocrine/paracrine regulation and protein expression and activity. The role of small non-coding RNAs in the regulation of animal reproduction remains however largely unknown and poorly investigated, despite a growing interest for the importance of miRNAs in a wide variety of biological processes. Here, we analyzed the role of miR-202, a miRNA predominantly expressed in male and female gonads in several vertebrate species. We studied its expression in the medaka ovary and generated a mutant line (using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering) to determine its importance for reproductive success with special interest for egg production. Our results show that miR-202-5p is the biologically active form of the miRNA and that it is expressed in granulosa cells and in the unfertilized egg. The knock out (KO) of miR-202 resulted in a strong phenotype both in terms of number and quality of eggs produced. Mutant females exhibited either no egg production or produced a drastically reduced number of eggs that could not be fertilized, ultimately leading to no reproductive success. We quantified the size distribution of the oocytes in the ovary of KO females and performed a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis approach to identified dysregulated molecular pathways. Together, cellular and molecular analyses indicate that lack of miR-202 impairs the early steps of oogenesis/folliculogenesis and decreases the number of large (i.e. vitellogenic) follicles, ultimately leading to dramatically reduced female fecundity. This study sheds new light on the regulatory mechanisms that control the early steps of follicular development and provides the first in vivo functional evidence that an ovarian-predominant microRNA may have a major role in female reproduction.Author summaryThe role of small non-coding RNAs in the regulation of animal reproduction remains poorly investigated, despite a growing interest for the importance of miRNAs in a wide variety of biological processes. Here, we analyzed the role of miR-202, a miRNA predominantly expressed in gonads in vertebrate. We studied its expression in the medaka ovary and knocked out the miR-202 genes to study its importance for reproductive success. We showed that the lack of miR-202 results in the sterility of both females and males. In particular, it lead to a drastic reduction of both the number and the quality of eggs produced by females. Mutant females exhibited either no egg production or produced a drastically reduced number of eggs that could not be fertilized, ultimately leading to no reproductive success. Quantitative histological and molecular analyses indicated that miR-202 KO impairs oocyte development and is also associated with the dysregulation of many genes that are critical for reproduction. This study sheds new light on the regulatory mechanisms that control oogenesis and provides the first in vivo functional evidence that an ovarian-predominant microRNA may have a major role in female reproduction.

scholarly journals Green and White Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis): A Source of Developmental, Chemical and Urinary Intrigue

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirini Pegiou ◽  
Roland Mumm ◽  
Parag Acharya ◽  
Ric C. H. de Vos ◽  
Robert D. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Asparagus Officinalis ◽  
Volatile Components ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Nutritional Properties ◽  
Pharmaceutical Properties ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Successful Production

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of the world’s top 20 vegetable crops. Both green and white shoots (spears) are produced; the latter being harvested before becoming exposed to light. The crop is grown in nearly all areas of the world, with the largest production regions being China, Western Europe, North America and Peru. Successful production demands high farmer input and specific environmental conditions and cultivation practices. Asparagus materials have also been used for centuries as herbal medicine. Despite this widespread cultivation and consumption, we still know relatively little about the biochemistry of this crop and how this relates to the nutritional, flavour, and neutra-pharmaceutical properties of the materials used. To date, no-one has directly compared the contrasting compositions of the green and white crops. In this short review, we have summarised most of the literature to illustrate the chemical richness of the crop and how this might relate to key quality parameters. Asparagus has excellent nutritional properties and its flavour/fragrance is attributed to a set of volatile components including pyrazines and sulphur-containing compounds. More detailed research, however, is needed and we propose that (untargeted) metabolomics should have a more prominent role to play in these investigations.

scholarly journals Verificação de Anemia em Pacientes Submetidos à Gastroplastia Redutora Tipo Y de Roux

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Akira Suizu ◽  
Romir Rodrigues ◽  
Juliana Isa Beraldo
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Gastric Bypass ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Obese People ◽  
Operation Period ◽  
Post Operation ◽  
Bariatric Patients ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity

A obesidade, doença crônica e complexa, acomete cada vez mais a população. Devido ao tratamento difícil, a cirurgia bariátrica, quando indicada, é eficiente, pois apresenta baixos riscos aos pacientes e boa manutenção da perda de peso. Entretanto, deve-se ter atenção no pós-operatório, devido aos efeitos colaterais promovidos pela cirurgia, resultando em modificações metabólicas e falhas nutricionais, decorrente da má absorção de nutrientes, dentre eles, o ferro. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a prevalência de anemia ferropriva no período de junho a outubro de 2013, com 32 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica do tipo Y de Roux, pertencentes à Associação dos Obesos Operados Bariátricos de Paranavaí e Região (AOOB). Após realizarmos um comparativo parcial com os 32 bariátricos da comunidade, verificarmos deficiências nutricionais. Nos 32 pacientes da comunidade, 50% manifestaram anemia, com IMC 23,37 kg/m2 (21,41 ± 25,33) e idade média de 43 anos. Já na AOOB, 31,25% apresentaram anemia (com maior prevalência dois anos após a cirurgia), IMC 29,02 kg/m2 (24,80 ± 33,24) e idade média de 42,96 anos. Nos associados da AOOB, 46,87% possuem intolerância a carne vermelha; 65% usam suplementos nutricionais e a participação nas reuniões mensais variou de 113 a 32 presenças. Apesar do estudo ter revelado índices relevantes de anemia é essencial o acompanhamento pós-operatório, como o realizado pela AOOB, melhorando a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. No entanto, é necessário um estudo mais abrangente, com espaço amostral e período de tempo maior para solidificação das evidências aqui estudadas. Verification of Anemia in Patients with Bariatric Surgery (Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass) Obesity, a chronic and complex disease, is more and more common in the population. Due to difficult treatment of obesity, bariatric surgery is efficient since it provides a good weight loss with few risks to patients. The post-operation period is important due to the side effects caused by metabolic modifications and nutritional flaws from a bad absorption of nutrients, especially iron. Current research, undertaken between June and October 2013, assesses the prevalence of iron-insufficiency anemia in 32 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, belonging to the Association of Operated Obese People (AOOB) from the region of Paranavaí PR Brazil. Partial comparative exam with 32 bariatric patients showed nutritional deficiencies, or rather, 50% suffered from anemia, with BMI = 23.37 kg/m2 (21.41 ± 25.33) and average age 43 years, whereas in AOOB, 31.25% were anemic (after two years of surgery), IMC = 29.02 kg/m2 (24.80 ± 33.24) and mean age 42.96 years. Further, 46.87% of AOOB associates were non-tolerant to beef; 65% used nutrition supplements and participation in monthly meetings varied between 113 and 32. In spite of high anemia percentages, the post-operational follow-up is highly important since it improves the patients ́ lifestyle. However, a more comprising analysis is required with a bigger sample and a longer time span for the establishment of evidences.

scholarly journals Toxicoproteomic Profiling of hPXR Transgenic Mice Treated with Rifampicin and Isoniazid

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1654
Author(s):  
Christopher Trent Brewer ◽  
Kiran Kodali ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Timothy I. Shaw ◽  
Junmin Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Vitamin B6 ◽  
Acute Intermittent Porphyria ◽  
Cluster Assembly ◽  
Proteomic Profiling ◽  
Cytochrome P450 Enzymes ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Antitubercular Drugs ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Tuberculosis is a global health threat that affects millions of people every year, and treatment-limiting toxicity remains a considerable source of treatment failure. Recent reports have characterized the nature of hPXR-mediated hepatotoxicity and the systemic toxicity of antitubercular drugs. The antitubercular drug isoniazid plays a role in such pathologic states as acute intermittent porphyria, anemia, hepatotoxicity, hypercoagulable states (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or ischemic stroke), pellagra (vitamin B3 deficiency), peripheral neuropathy, and vitamin B6 deficiency. However, the mechanisms by which isoniazid administration leads to these states are unclear. To elucidate the mechanism of rifampicin- and isoniazid-induced liver and systemic injury, we performed tandem mass tag mass spectrometry-based proteomic screening of mPxr−/− and hPXR mice treated with combinations of rifampicin and isoniazid. Proteomic profiling analysis suggested that the hPXR liver proteome is affected by antitubercular therapy to disrupt [Fe–S] cluster assembly machinery, [2Fe–2S] cluster-containing proteins, cytochrome P450 enzymes, heme biosynthesis, homocysteine catabolism, oxidative stress responses, vitamin B3 metabolism, and vitamin B6 metabolism. These novel findings provide insight into the etiology of some of these processes and potential targets for subsequent investigations. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD019505.

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