Dietary Tomato Powder Supplementation in the Prevention of Leiomyoma of the Oviduct in the Japanese Quail

Spontaneous leiomyomas of the oviduct are common tumors of the Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), which makes it a good animal model for screening potential agents for testing in the prevention and treatment of human myoma uteri. We have previously reported a decreased incidence of leiomyomas in the oviduct of Japanese quail with lycopene supplementation. Although the major carotenoid in tomatoes is lycopene, tomatoes also contain other compounds, which may contribute to their health benefit. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of tomato powder supplementation on the development of leiomyomas in the oviduct of Japanese quail. We also measured serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), carotenoids, and vitamins C, E, and A. A total of 150 quails (3 mo old) were assigned to 3 treatment groups consisting of 5 replicates of 10 birds in each group. Birds were fed either a basal diet (control group) or the basal diet supplemented with 25 g (Treatment I) or 50 g (Treatment II) of tomato powder (0.8 mg lycopene per g of tomato powder) per kg of diet. The animals were sacrificed after 365 days, and the tumors were identified. Tomato powder supplementation significantly decreased the number of leiomyomas as compared to control birds (P < 0.01). The tumors in tomato powder fed birds were smaller than those found in control birds (P < 0.01). Serum lycopene, lutein, zeaxantin, and vitamins C, E, and A increased (P = 0.01), whereas MDA concentrations decreased (P = 0.01) with tomato powder supplementation. No measurable lycopene could be detected in the serum of control birds, whereas a dose-dependent increase was observed in the serum of birds supplemented with tomato powder. The results indicate that dietary supplementation with tomato powder reduces the incidence and size of spontaneously occurring leiomyoma of the oviduct in the Japanese quail. Clinical trials should be conducted to investigate the efficacy of tomato powder supplementation in the prevention and treatment of uterine leiomyoma in humans.     

染料木黄酮抗辐射研究进展

染料木黄酮的化学名为5,7,4’-三羟基异黄酮,是大豆异黄酮的主要成分及其生物活性基础。近年来大量研究发现,染料木黄酮具有较强的抗氧化活性,可以淬灭辐射诱导的自由基增多和增加抗氧化酶的活性,抑制膜的脂质过氧化;还可通过调节细胞周期、抑制细胞凋亡、调控细胞基因表达等减轻辐射损伤,促进损伤修复,表现出较强的抗辐射作用。     

Genistein and Daidzein/Glycitein Content in Tofu

The consumption of soyfoods is of great interest because of their proposed anticancer and antiatherogenic activity. It has been suggested that the soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein are responsible for these activities. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of the isoflavone content of commercially available packaged tofu by brands and batches. The content of total genistein and daidzein/glycitein aglycones in tofu samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after acid hydrolysis in 23 different brands and different batches of four of these brands. Between different tofu brands the genistein and daidzein/glycitein content varied from 0.07 to 0.34 mg/g and 0.10 to 0.24 mg/g wet weight, respectively. The isoflavone content from batch to batch of the same brand varied between 7 and 28% based on dry weight. Assuming a daily consumption of 30 g soy products, the isoflavone intake could vary between 5.4 and 17.1 mg/day.     

染料木黄酮对体外细胞增殖的抑制作用研究

目的　研究染料木黄酮的抗癌作用及其对正常细胞的毒性大小。方法　观察染料木黄酮对肺癌YTMLC -90、胃低分化腺癌SGC - 790 1、中国仓鼠卵巢CHO细胞株体外增殖和正常人外周血淋巴细胞活性和功能状态的影响。结果　染料木黄酮对正常人外周血淋巴细胞基本无抑制作用 ,而对YTMLC - 90、SGC - 790 1均有抑制作用 ,且随着剂量的增加和时间的延长 ,抑制作用也相应增强 ,其最低有效抑制浓度为 18 5 μmol/L。 结论　染料木黄酮可抑制肿瘤细胞增殖 ,可作为一种较好的防癌抗癌物质在肿瘤的治疗和预防过程中发挥重要的作用。但本研究还发现染料木黄酮对CHO细胞也有一定的抑制作用 ,故对其生物学作用的全面评价有待进一步深入研究     

聚乙烯输卵管避孕栓避孕效果及可复性的动物实验

目的:观察聚乙烯输卵管栓抗生育效果、置栓后组织学改变和取栓后生育力恢复情况。方法:将31只新西兰实验兔随机分为放栓组(n=29)双侧输卵管放置聚乙烯输卵管节育栓,对照组(n=2)不放置输卵管栓。分别于节育栓植入3、6、12个月后观察避孕效果,并以显微镜及扫描电镜观察输卵管黏膜的组织变化,取栓后观察兔受孕情况。结果:对照组2例新西兰兔均受孕,妊娠率100%;放栓组29例放置避孕栓3个月,3例脱落(脱落率10.4%),余26例栓位置正常兔未受孕,避孕成功率达100%。6例观察6个月,3例观察12个月均未受孕。光镜下大部分放栓新西兰兔输卵管黏膜皱襞未见明显炎性细胞浸润,肌层未见充血和出血,浆膜无明显病理异常。电镜下分泌细胞及纤毛多数正常。取栓后妊娠率为100%。结论:聚乙烯输卵管避孕栓可能是一种避孕有效的、可复性好的输卵管避孕器具。     

Compulsive Conditioned Sexual Responding of Male Japanese Quail in Extinction

Archives of Sexual Behavior - Previous experiments showed that following acquisition of an association between a terry-cloth object conditioned stimulus (CS) and a live female unconditioned...     

Effects of Methyl Parathion on Reproduction in the Japanese Quail

Received: 6 January 1996/Accepted: 3 May 1996     

Genistein induces glucose-regulated protein 78 in mammary tumor cells

Preliminary studies have shown that genistein modulates the expression of some heat shock proteins in mammary tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of genistein pretreatment on the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in both estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and -negative (MDA-MB-231) cells. Genistein increased the expression of GRP78 in a dose- and time-dependent manner and suppressed glucose uptake in both cell lines. However, induction of GRP78 by genistein appears not to be directly associated with inhibition of glucose uptake. Genistein treatment also made MDA-MB-231 cells more sensitive to doxorubicin, probably via increased GRP78 expression, but had no effect or even decreased drug sensitivity in MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that genistein may be exploited as an enhancer of chemotherapeutic agents in certain types of breast cancer.     

Genistein may prevent cadmium-induced bone loss in ovariectomized rats

This study compared the ability of genistein, a soy isoflavone, with that of 17 beta-estradiol to prevent bone loss in cadmium (Cd)-exposed ovariectomized (OVX) rats during growth. Female Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were either sham-operated (SH; n = 9/group) or OVX and placed on experimental diets (n = 9/group): OVX; OVX rats fed 50 ppm of CdCl(2) (OVX-Cd); OVX fed 50 ppm of CdCl(2) and 10 microg/kg of body weight genistein (OVX-Cd-G); and OVX fed 50 ppm of CdCl(2) and 10 microg/kg of body weight estrogen (OVX-Cd-E). All rats were given free access to AIN-76 modified diet and drinking water, with or without Cd, for 8 weeks. The OVX groups gained more body weight than the SH group. Femoral weight was increased by feeding genistein and estradiol, whereas femoral length among groups was not significantly different. Femoral Cd content was significantly higher in the OVX-Cd group than in the other groups. Both serum osteocalcin and calcium (Ca) concentrations, as well as urinary Ca, were significantly higher in the OVX-Cd group than in the other groups. Urinary excretion of Cd was significantly increased in Cd-OVX-G rats, and fecal Cd excretion was increased by feeding both genistein and estradiol. Femoral histomorpological changes in proliferative cartilage and hypertrophic cells in the OVX-Cd group showed that both cell types were decreased by feeding Cd, and irregular arrangements were observed in proliferative cells. However, both cells types exhibited normal distribution in OVX-Cd-G and OVX-Cd-E groups. These findings suggest that Cd/OVXinduced osteopenia or osteoporosis probably results from an increase in bone turnover. Genistein may be involved in stimulating Cd excretion and inhibiting Ca excretion from bone.     

Genistein stimulates hematopoiesis and increases survival in irradiated mice

Radiation protection from death and stimulating hematopoietic recovery by oral administrations of genistein, 160 mg/kg b.w., once daily for seven consecutive days before whole-body gamma-rays irradiation, were confirmed by tests with adult male BALB/c mice. Moreover, the protective action of genistein was compared to that of diethylstilbestrol (DES). Based on the studies of survival, behavior of hematograms, endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation (endoCFUs), and numbers of nucleated cell, granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units (CFU-GM) in bone marrow following irradiation, it was demonstrated that genistein was an effective radioprotector. The survival of irradiated mice protected by genistein was significantly increased and statistically higher than that of mice pre-treated with DES. Stimulated recovery of leukocytes, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and thrombocytes were observed in mice pre-treated with genistein or DES, however, the effects of genistein on promoting recovery of bone marrow nucleated cells, leukocytes and lymphocytes were significantly higher than those of DES. Enhanced endoCFUs, numbers of bone marrow nucleated cells and CFU-GM were also found in mice pre-treated with genistein as well as DES. Meanwhile, endoCFU numbers in mice pre-treated with genistein was 3.47-fold higher than that in the irradiated control group, although no significant difference was found between genistein administration and DES administration. It could be deduced that the radioprotective action against death is induced by a possible process of enhanced regeneration of the hematopoietic stem cells due to not only strengthened radioresistance and increased numbers of remained hematopoietic cells, but also enhanced post-irradiation repair or promoted proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells. These effects of genistein may have some therapeutic implications for radiation-induced injuries.     

Dietary Barley Leaf Mitigates Tumorigenesis in Experimental Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Dietary barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf (BL) is a popular functional food known to have potential health benefits; however, the effect of BL in colorectal cancer prevention has not been examined. Here, we examined the role of BL on the prevention of colorectal carcinogenesis and defined the mechanism involved. BL supplementation could protect against weight loss, mitigate tumor formation, and diminish histologic damage in mice treated with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Moreover, BL suppressed colonic expression of inflammatory enzymes, while improving the mucosal barrier dysfunctions. The elevated levels of cell proliferation markers and the increased expression of genes involved in β-catenin signaling were also reduced by BL. In addition, analyses of microbiota revealed that BL prevented AOM/DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis by promoting the enrichment of Bifidobacterium. Overall, these data suggest that BL is a promising dietary agent for preventing colitis-associated colorectal cancer.     

Genistein induces apoptosis in T lymphoma cells via mitochondrial damage

The soy isoflavone genistein has been identified as having antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on various malignant cell types derived from solid tumors. Because little information regarding the effect of genistein on hematopoietic malignancies is available, we undertook this study of T-cell lymphomas. We tested the effect of genistein on murine T-cell lines derived from thymic lymphomas induced by an oncogenic murine leukemia virus. When T lymphoma cells were treated with genistein concentrations of 15 microM and greater, it was observed that the percentage of viable cells was significantly reduced in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The observed cell killing was found to be the result of apoptosis as detected by flow cytometric analysis of cells stained with annexin V and propidium iodide and assays for caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. Cell staining with the mitochondrial specific dye JC-1 and detection of caspase-9 activation revealed that genistein produced mitochondrial depolarization as an early step in the induction of apoptosis. Bongkrekic acid inhibition of mitochondrial depolarization identified the mitochondria permeability transition pore (PTP) as a potential target of genistein activity. These results indicate that the induction of apoptosis by pharmacological concentrations of genistein in T lymphoma cells occurs via mitochondrial damage with the involvement of the PTP.     

Glycyl-l-Glutamine Injected Centrally Suppresses Alcohol Drinking in P Rats

Recent reports show that central β-endorphin (1–31) injection augments the volitional intake of alcohol. Correspondingly, alcohol drinking stimulates β-endorphin (1-31) release from the hypothalamus of the rat. Glycyl-l-glutamine (Gly-Gln) is produced in β-endorphin-containing neurons and is coreleased with β-endorphin(1–31) and other processing products. Because Gly-Gln is apparently an endogenous antagonist of β-endorphin(1–31) in several systems, the present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that Gly-Gln injected ICV would alter voluntary alcohol drinking in the genetic, high-alcohol-preferring P rat. After a guide tube was implanted stereotaxically above the lateral cerebral ventricle, the rats were offered 3–30% alcohol over 10 days, and then given their maximally preferred concentration of alcohol in the presence of water for the remainder of the experiment. Gly-Gln or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) vehicle then was injected ICV in a dose of 10 or 100 nmol for 3 consecutive days, which was followed by a 7-day postinjection interval. Gly-Gln suppressed significantly the intakes of alcohol in terms of both g/kg and proportion to total fluid. During the postinjection days, alcohol drinking continued to be suppressed, whereas neither the daily intakes of food or water nor the body weights of the rats were changed. The present results are consistent with the concept of a functional antagonism by Gly-Gln of the role of β-endorphin(1–31) in mediating certain central functions. These results demonstrate that alcohol consumption is suppressed by the direct intracerebral application of this unique peptide.     

Green Tea Polyphenols Inhibit Colorectal Tumorigenesis in Azoxymethane-Treated F344 Rats

In studying the cancer-preventive activities of green tea polyphenols, we previously demonstrated that dietary administration of polyphenon E (PPE) inhibited the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon of azoxymethane (AOM)-treated F344 rats. Herein, we reported cancer-preventive activity of PPE using colorectal cancer as an end point. F344 rats were given two weekly injections of AOM, and then maintained on a 20% high-fat diet with or without 0.24% PPE for 34 wk. In the control group, 83% of rats developed colorectal tumors. Dietary PPE treatment significantly increased the plasma and colonic levels of tea polyphenols, and decreased tumor multiplicity and tumor size. Histological analysis indicated that PPE significantly decreased the incidence of adenocarcinoma, and the multiplicity of adenocarcinoma as well as the multiplicity of adenoma. PPE treatment significantly decreased plasma levels of proinflammatory eicosanoids, prostaglandin E2, and leukotriene B4. It also decreased β-catenin nuclear expression, induced apoptosis, and increased expression levels of RXRα, β, and γ in adenocarcinomas. In conclusion, our results convincingly demonstrated the inhibitory effects of orally administered PPE on colon carcinogenesis in AOM-treated rats and suggested possible biomarkers for the biological effects of green tea polyphenols.