Browsing by Subject "Aging"
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- PublicationOpen AccessA metabolic signature predicts biological age in mice(Wiley Open Access, 2013-02) Tomas-Loba, Antonia; Bernardes de Jesus, Bruno; Mato, Jose M; Blasco, Maria Antonia; FisiologíaOur understanding of the mechanisms by which aging is produced is still very limited. Here, we have determined the sera metabolite profile of 117 wild-type mice of different genetic backgrounds ranging from 8 to 129 weeks of age. This has allowed us to define a robust metabolomic signature and a derived metabolomic score that reliably/accurately predicts the age of wild-type mice. In the case of telomerase-deficient mice, which have a shortened lifespan, their metabolomic score predicts older ages than expected. Conversely, in the case of mice that overexpress telomerase, their metabolic score corresponded to younger ages than expected. Importantly, telomerase reactivation late in life by using a TERT-based gene therapy recently described by us significantly reverted the metabolic profile of old mice to that of younger mice, further confirming an anti-aging role for telomerase. Thus, the metabolomic signature associated with natural mouse aging accurately predicts aging produced by telomere shortening, suggesting that natural mouse aging is in part produced by presence of short telomeres. These results indicate that the metabolomic signature is associated with the biological age rather than with the chronological age. This constitutes one of the first aging-associated metabolomic signatures in a mammalian organism.
- PublicationOpen AccessAge and education as factors associated with medication literacy: a community pharmacy perspective(BMC, 2020-11-25) Plaza Zamora, Javier; Osuna, Eduardo; Pérez Cárceles, María Dolores; Legaz Pérez, Isabel; Ciencias SociosanitariasBackground: Aging implies a higher prevalence of chronic pathologies and a corresponding increase in medication. The correct adherence and use of the medication are prerequisites for reducing risks of disease progression, comorbidity, and mortality. Medication literacy (ML) is the specific ability to safely access and understand the information available concerning medication, and to act accordingly. Currently, there are few specific instruments that ascertain the extent of ML in the general population. The aim of this work was to analyse ML in a large cohort of pharmacy customers. Methods: A total of 400 community pharmacy clients were analyzed to assess the level of ML (documental and numeracy) through the validated MedLitRxSE tool. Results: The results showed that out of a total of 400 community pharmacy clients only 136 (34%) had an adequate degree of ML, while the rest of the clients (n = 264; 66%) were adjudged not to have this ability. Statistically significant differences were found between the different age groups in terms of ML (P < 0.001; OR = 0.312; 95% CI: 0.195–0.499), the 51–65 and >65-year age groups having a lower frequency of adequate ML (23.5 and 7.1%, respectively) than the rest of the age groups. A statistically significant increase in adequate ML was observed as the academic level of the clients increased (P < 0.001; OR = 15.403; 95% CI: 8.109–29.257). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed the influence of both variables on ML. Conclusions: An inadequate ML level was found in community pharmacy clients over the age of 51, and also in those with primary or non-formal studies. Our data add to our knowledge about ML, and should pharmacists and other health professionals to adopt new strategies to prevent, or at least reduce, errors in taking medicines, thus avoiding the undesirable effects of any misuse.
- PublicationOpen AccessAge- and sex-associated changes in prosaposin and its receptors in the lacrimal glands of rats.(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2020) Islam, Farzana; Khan, Md. Sakirul Islam; Nabeka, Hiroaki; Shimokawa, Tetsuya; Yamamiya, Kimiko; Matsuda, SeijiProsaposin, a saposin precursor, is a potent neurotrophic factor found in several tissues and various biological fluids. Saposin-deficient patients have different ophthalmic disorders, indicating a relationship between ocular health and prosaposin. However, there is little information about prosaposin on the ocular surface. Because ocular functions are diverse and depend on age and sex, we examined whether prosaposin and its receptors, G protein-coupled receptor 37 (GPR37) and GPR37L1, are expressed in the major ocular glands, the extra orbital lacrimal gland (ELG), and harderian gland (HG) of rats and whether sex and aging affect their expression. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that prosaposin and its receptors were expressed in the ELGs and HGs of rats, although their expression varied based on the type of gland, age, and sex. Prosaposin, GPR37, and GPR37L1 were expressed in the basolateral membranes and cytoplasm of acinar cells of the ELGs, and their immunoreactivities were higher in female rats of menopausal age than age-matched male rats. However, such age- and sex-related differences in the immunoreactivities of prosaposin, GPR37, and GPR37L1 were not observed in the HGs. Triple immunofluorescence labelling revealed that prosaposin, GPR37, and GPR37L1 were co-localised in the acinar and ductal cells in the ELGs, although the degrees of colocalization varied according to the age and sex of the rats. Together, the present results showed that prosaposin and its receptors were expressed in the major ocular glands of rats, and their immunoreactivities to the ELGs differed considerably with age and sex.
- PublicationRestrictedAge-related brain pathology in Octodon degu: blood vessel, white matter and Alzheimer-like pathology(Elsevier, 2009-11-11) Van Groen, Thomas; Kadish, Inga; Caballero Bleda, María; Baño-Otalora, Beatriz; Vivanco, Pablo; Rol, María Ángeles; Madrid, Juan Antonio; Popovic, Natalija; Popovic Popovic, Miroljub; Anatomía Humana y PsicobiologíaRecently it has been shown that over 3-year-old wild-type South American rodents, Octodon degus, the "common degu" or degu, of their own accord develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathological hallmarks: amyloid-β-peptide depositions and accumulation of tau-protein. Here we analyzed brains of 1-, 3- and 6-year-old degu's, bred in standard animal facilities. Significant amounts of Aβ and tau deposits are present in the hippocampal formation of 6-year-old O. degus, primarily in the white matter, but these hippocampal Aβ and tau deposits are not present in younger ones. In contrast, significant Aβ deposits in blood vessel walls are already found in 3-year-old animals. The tau deposits in the hippocampal formation coincide with a significant decrease in staining for myelin in the same areas, indicating hippocampal disconnection and, likely, dysfunction. Our findings indicate that (1) cerebral amyloid angiopathy precedes brain parenchyma pathology in aged degu's and (2) the onset of disease seems to be delayed in the laboratory vs. wild-type degu's.
- PublicationOpen AccessAge-related changes in mitochondrial membrane composition of Nothobranchius furzeri. Comparison with a longer-living Nothobranchius species(Springer Nature, 2019-02-15) Almaida Pagán, Pedro Francisco; Ortega-Sabater C.; Lucas-Sanchez A.; Gonzalez-Silvera D.; Martinez-Nicolas A.; Rol de Lama, María de los Ángeles; Mendiola P.; de Costa J.; FisiologíaMembrane compositions, particularly of mitochondria, could be critical factors in the mechanisms of growth and aging, especially during phases of high oxidative stress that result in molecular damage. Changes affecting lipid class or fatty acid (FA) compositions could affect phospholipid (PL) properties and alter mitochondrial function. In the present study, mitochondrial membrane PL compositions were analysed throughout the life-cycle of Nothobranchius furzeri, a species with explosive growth and one of the shortest-lived vertebrates. Mitochondrial PLs showed several changes with age. Proportions of total PLs and PC were reduced while an increase in PS, CL and PE was observed, mainly between the 2.5 and 5 months of fish age, the time during which animals doubled their weight. FA compositions of individual PLs in mitochondria were also significantly affected with age suggesting the existence of increasing damage to mitochondrial lipids during the life- cycle of N. furzeri that could be one of the main contributors to degraded mitochondrial function associated with aging. The peroxidation index values from N. furzeri mitochondrial PLs were significantly lower than those reported in N. rachovii, a species with a 2-fold longer life span than N. furzeri, which seems to contradict the membrane pacemaker theory of animal metabolism
- PublicationEmbargoAge-related changes in mitochondrial membrane composition of nothobranchius rachovii(Oxford University Press, 2013-05-17) Lucas-Sánchez, Alejandro; Almaida Pagán, Pedro Francisco; Tocher, Douglas R.; Mendiola, Pilar; Costa, Jorge de; FisiologíaMitochondrial membrane composition may be a critical factor in the mechanisms of the aging process by influencing the propagation of reactions involved in mitochondrial function during periods of high stress. Changes affecting either lipid class or fatty acid compositions could affect phospholipid properties and alter mitochondrial function and cell viability In the present study, mitochondrial membrane phospholipid compositions were analyzed throughout the life cycle of Nothobranchius rachovii. Mitochondrial phospholipids showed several changes with age. Proportions of cardiolipin decreased and those of sphingomyelin increased between 11- and 14-month-old fish. Fatty acid compositions of individual phospholipids in mitochondria were also significantly affected with age. These data suggest increasing damage to mitochondrial lipids during the life cycle of N. rachovii that could be one of the main factors related with and contributing to degraded mitochondrial function associated with the aging process.
- PublicationOpen AccessAge-related changes in myosin-V myenteric neurons, CGRP and VIP immunoreactivity in the ileum of rats supplemented with ascorbic acid(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2012) Tonon Veit, Ana Paula; Nelisis Zanoni, JacquelineWe examined the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on myosin-V, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoractivities in the myenteric neurons in aging rats. Male rats were divided into groups: young 90-day-old rats (E90), 345-day-old control rats (E345), 428-day-old control rats (E428), 90- to 345-day-old rats treated with ascorbic acid (1 g/L) (EA345), and 90- to 428-day-old rats treated with ascorbic acid (1g/L) (EA428). The quantitative results showed that aging reduced the number of myosin-V-immunoreactive neurons compared with young animals (E90). Ascorbic acid supplementation in the EA345 and EA428 groups increased the average area of myosin-V neurons by 24.6% and 24.1% compared with the E345 and E428 groups, respectively. When all groups were compared, we observed significant differences for the CGRP- and VIP-immunoractive varicosities of nerve fibers from myenteric neurons. Ascorbic acid supplementation had a neurotrophic effect on all neurons studied, suggesting a neuroprotective role
- PublicationOpen AccessAge-related changes of aorta in Syrian hamsters of APA strain(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1995) Yamanouchi, J.; Sugawara, Y.; Itagaki, S.; Doi, K.Age related changes in thoracic aorta (TA) and abdominal aorta (AA) of male APA hamsters from 3 to 12 months of age were examined morphometrically and ultrastructurally. The nuclear density of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was larger in AA than in TA, and it decreased with advancing age. In contrast, the collagen fibre density was larger in TA than in AA, and it increased correlatively with aging, especially in TA. Electron microscopic examinations revealed that subendothelial cystic spaces and aggregations of fragments of elastic and collagen fibres were found at 3 months of age and progressed with advancing age in TA, while they were not evident in AA even at 12 months of age. Irregularity of medial SMC contours and an amount of SMC-associated collagen fibres were more prominent in TA than in AA throughout the experimental period. Degenerative changes of endothelial cells and medial SMCs progressed with aging in both TA and AA, and degenerated SMCs were characterized by aggregations of swollen mitochondria.
- PublicationOpen AccessAge-related degeneration of articular cartilage in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis: molecular markers of senescent chondrocytes(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2015) Musumeci, Giuseppe; Szychlinska, Marta Anna; Mobasheri, AliAging is a natural process by which every single living organism approaches its twilight of existence in a natural way. However, aging is also linked to the pathogenesis of a number of complex diseases. This is the case for osteoarthritis (OA), where age is considered to be a major risk factor of this important and increasingly common joint disorder. Half of the world's population, aged 65 and older, suffers from OA. Although the relationship between the development of OA and aging has not yet been completely understood, it is thought that age-related changes correlate with other risk factors. The most prominent hypothesis linking aging and OA is that chondrocytes undergo premature aging due to several factors, such as excessive mechanical load or oxidative stress, which induce the so called “stress-induced senescent state”, which is ultimately responsible for the onset of OA. This review focuses on molecular markers and mechanisms implicated in chondrocyte aging and the pathogenesis of OA. We discuss the most important age-related morphological and biological changes that affect articular cartilage and chondrocytes. We also identify the main senescence markers that may be used to recognize molecular alterations in the extracellular matrix of cartilage as related to senescence. Since the aging process is strongly associated with the onset of osteoarthritis, we believe that strategies aimed at preventing chondrocyte senescence, as well as the identification of new increasingly sensitive senescent markers, could have a positive impact on the development of new therapies for this severe disease.
- PublicationOpen AccessAging affects different human muscles in various ways. An image analysis of the histomorphometric characteristics of fiber types in human masseter and vastus lateralis muscles from young adults and the very old(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2000) Kirkeby, S.; Garbarsch, C.This study is an attempt to objectively evaluate age-related changes in human muscles by use of histomorphometric methods. Aging in humans induces dramatic transformations in the skeletal muscles but little is known as to whether or not the aging processes per se may affect all muscles equally. In this study aging of two human muscles with different functions, origin and nerve supply is compared. Sections were cut from masseter and vastus lateralis muscles obtained from young adults aged 18-24 years and from the very old aged 90-102 years. Muscle fiber types were classified with the traditional myofibrillar ATPase staining. Various histomorphometric parameters of the different fiber types in human masseter and vastus lateralis muscle sections were obtained by image analyses to evaluate the age-related changes in the muscle fibers. The following variables were calculated: the number of each fiber type per photographed area; the area of each fiber and two indicators for the shape of the muscle fibers. In the aging muscles there was no relative preferential loss of a fiber type. High numbers of intermediate ATPase-stained fibers (IM fibers) were found in some old vastus muscles but were only sporadic in young vastus muscles. However, there was no change in the percentage distribution of intermediate ATPasestained fibers when young and very old human masseter muscles were compared. Incubation of the sections with antimyosin antibodies showed that the IM fibers in old masseter and old vastus contained different myosin heavy chains. Thus ATPase activity and anti-myosin staining displayed a somewhat different pattern of fiber type distribution. The main changes in the shape and area indicated that type I fibers in the masseter became more circular while in the vastus they decreased significantly in size. The type I1 fibers in the vastus became very small and deviated significantly from circularity whereas the type I1 fibers in the masseter only exhibited a decrease in the size of the fibers. Histomorphometric measurements show that aging affects different human muscles in various ways.
- PublicationOpen AccessAging and uterine serous carcinoma(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Hachisuga, ToruUterine serous carcinoma (USC) is closely associated with advanced age in patients. The p53 signature (p53S) is considered the earliest indication for the presence of carcinogenesis of USC. Based on our previous studies, the presence of p53Ss have almost always been found in elderly women and are suspected of being responsible for the imbalance between the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial epithelial cells with advanced age. We have summarized the current state of knowledge regarding the association between age and cancer and propose an age-related type of endometrial cancer instead of Type II estrogenindependent endometrial cancer.
- PublicationOpen AccessApoptosis in dopaminergic neurons of the human substantia nigra during normal aging(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Anglade, P.; Vyas, S.; Hirsch, E.C.; Agid, Y.Morphological and biochemical alterations have been described in neurons of the aged human brain. However, the cell death process associated with neuronal senescence remains to be elucidated. Apoptosis and autophagic degeneration, two modes of programmed cell death described in embryogenesis and tissue renewal in adult, have been observed in nigral dopaminergic neurons in patients with Parkinson's disease. In the present study, we made the hypothesis that programmed cell death may be also involved in the death of nigral dopaminergic neurons occurring during aging. Cell death types were defined by morphological criteria identified at subcellular level. We thus performed an ultrastructural analysis in order to search for apoptotic and autophagic features in melanized neurons of the substantia nigra in four normal aged subjects. Morphological characteristics of apoptosis, such as contact loss with surrounding tissues, cell shnnkage and chromatin condensation, were found in 2% of the total number of melanized neurons analyzed. Although endoplasmic reticulum appeared normal, mitochondria were markedly shrunken. Fragments of melanized neurons were found in glial cells. Autophagic degeneration or necrosis were not detected in melanized neurons. Signs of oxidative stress, such as vacuolation of mitochondria, were obsewed in melanized neurons devoid of apoptotic features. These findings demonstrate that apoptosis is involved in cell death of nigral dopaminergic neurons during normal aging. Since morphological abnormalities found in this study, such as marked mitochondrial shrinkage in apoptotic neurons, were not observed in patients with Parkinson's disease, the mechanisms underlying apoptosis may be different in aging and pathology.
- PublicationOpen AccessAscorbic acid deficiency accelerates aging of hepatic stellate cells with up-regulation of PPARγ(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2012) Hong, Il-Hwa; Han, Jung-Youn; Goo, Moon-Jung; Hwa, Sung-Young; Ki, Mi-Ran; Park, Jin-Kyu; Hong, Kyung-Sook; Hwang, Ok-Kyung; Kim, Tae-Hwan; Yoo, Sung-Eun; Jeong, Kyu-ShikSenescent cells have been observed in certain aged or damaged tissues. However, the information about the effects of aging on liver cells is limited. In the present study, we have examined age-related histological changes in the livers of senescence marker protein knockout (SMP30-/-) mice, which are considered as a murine aging model due to the more sensitive response to apoptotic reagents and due to their shorter life span. In livers of old SMP30-/- mice, numerous hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were hypertrophic and contained abundant microvesicular lipid droplets in cytoplasm. We have found that the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which is a protein related to lipid metabolism and HSC quiescence, was increased in hypertrophic HSCs by aging and vitamin C (VC) deficiency, whereas these phenomena were dramatically reduced by antioxidant treatment. Therefore, these prominent phenotypic changes can be considered as aging markers in the livers of animals which are subjected to antioxidant property evaluation
- PublicationOpen AccessAssociation of Quality of Life and Anxiety Indicators with the Physical Capacity of Elderly: A Crossover Study(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de publicaciones, 2024) Fernandes, Isabela S. dos Santos; Mendoça, Silgrid Magalhães; Dutra, Joel Teixeira; Orsini, Marco; Machado, Sergio; Tavares Salete, Marilia; Moreno, Adalgiza Mafra; Soares, Denilson Costa; Gonçalves, Thiago RodriguezThe agingprocess can lead to muscle weakness, decreased physical capacity, and joint mobility, thus reducing the quality of life of the elderly population and consequently increasing their levels of anxiety. The objective of this study was to correlate the indicators of quality of life and anxiety with the physical capacity of the elderly. In the present study, 12 elderly people (M=68; SD=5 years old) were selected, who answered a quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) and the indicators of functional ability, pain, general health status, and mental health and the BAI questionnaire to determine the level of anxiety. Physical capacity was determined by the six-minute walk test (6MWT), observing the number of laps and distance covered. The study was accepted by the local ethics committee and everyone signed the informed consent form. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics with mean ± standard deviation and Pearson's correlation with a level of significance at ≤0.05 for rejecting the null hypothesis. The distance covered in the 6MWT (486.8±58.4m) had a significant correlation with MS (68.7±14.2; r=0.60, p=0.04) and with the level of anxiety (5.2±4.0; r=-0.65, p=0.02). The distance covered was associated with mental health and anxiety. More studies should be carried out to better determine the impact of physical activity on the quality of life of the elderly.
- PublicationOpen AccessCapacidad funcional y nivel cognitivo de adultos mayores residentes en una comunidad en el sur de Brasil(Murcia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2015) Leite, Marinês Tambara; Daniani Castioni, Rosane Maria; Kirchner, Rosane Marie; Hildebrandt, Leila MarizaObjetivo: Evaluar la capacidad funcional y la función cognitiva de los ancianos residentes en el área urbana de una ciudad de Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil. Método: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal, en el cual participaron 368 adultos mayores. Para la colecta de los datos se utilizó: cuestionario de identificación, Mini-Mental, Índice de Katz y Escala de Lawton. La estadística descriptiva y test exacto de Fisher fueron utilizados en el análisis. Resultados: Hubo predominio de mujeres (64,9%), de 60-70 años (43,8%), casados (46,5%), con algún grado de escolaridad (90,8%). En cuanto a la capacidad funcional, 85% son independientes para las actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria (AIVD) y 93,48% lo son para las actividades de la vida diaria (AVD). Conclusión: El estudio revela un significativo porcentual de adultos mayores independientes para la realización de las AVD, sin embargo necesitan de ayuda para las AIVD.
- PublicationOpen AccessCardiac Changes in Parkinson’s Disease: Lessons from Clinical and Experimental Evidence(MDPI, 2021-12) Herrero Ezquerro, María Trinidad; Laorden Carrasco, María Luisa; Cuenca Bermejo, Lorena; Almela Rojo, Pilar; Navarro Zaragoza, Javier; González Cuello, Ana María; Fernández Villalba, Emiliano; EnfermeríaDysautonomia is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Most dysautonomic symptoms appear due to alterations in the peripheral nerves of the autonomic nervous system, including both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The degeneration of sympathetic nerve fibers and neurons leads to cardiovascular dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in PD patients. Cardiac alterations such as orthostatic hypotension, heart rate variability, modifications in cardiogram parameters and baroreflex dysfunction can appear in both the early and late stages of PD, worsening as the disease progresses. In PD patients it is generally found that parasympathetic activity is decreased, while sympathetic activity is increased. This situation gives rise to an imbalance of both tonicities which might, in turn, promote a higher risk of cardiac damage through tachycardia and vasoconstriction. Cardiovascular abnormalities can also appear as a side effect of PD treatment: L-DOPA can decrease blood pressure and aggravate orthostatic hypotension as a result of a negative inotropic effect on the heart. This unwanted side effect limits the therapeutic use of L-DOPA in geriatric patients with PD and can contribute to the number of hospital admissions. Therefore, it is essential to define the cardiac features related to PD for the monitorization of the heart condition in parkinsonian individuals. This information can allow the application of intervention strategies to improve the course of the disease and the proposition of new alternatives for its treatment to eliminate or reverse the motor and non-motor symptoms, especially in geriatric patients.
- PublicationEmbargoChanges in mitochondrial membrane composition and oxidative status during rapid growth, maturation and aging in zebrafish, Danio rerio(Elsevier, 2014-04-24) Almaida Pagán, Pedro Francisco; Lucas-Sanchez, A; Tocher, D R; FisiologíaConsidering membranes and membrane components as possible pacemakers of the main processes taking place inside mitochondria, changes in phospholipids or fatty acids could play a central role linking different mechanisms involved in cumulative damage to cell molecules and dysfunction during periods of high stress, such as rapid growth and aging. Changes affecting either lipid class or fatty acid compositions could affect phospholipid and membrane properties and alter mitochondrial function and cell viability. In the present study, mitochondrial oxidative status and mitochondrial membrane phospholipid compositions were analyzed throughout the lifecycle of zebrafish. TBARS content significantly increased in 18-month-old fish while aconitase activity decreased in 24-month-old fish, which have been related with oxidative damage to molecules. Mitochondria-specific superoxide dismutase decreased in 24-month-old animals although this change was not statistically significant. Age affected both mitochondrial phospholipid content and the peroxidation index of most phospholipid classes suggesting that oxidative damage to mitochondrial lipids was occurring.
- PublicationRestrictedChanges in tissue and mitochondrial membrane composition during rapid growth, maturation and aging in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss(Elsevier, 2012-01-16) Almaida Pagán, Pedro Francisco; Costa, J. de; Mendiola, P; Tocher, D R; Fisiología; Institute of Aquaculture, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainMembrane compositions, particularly of mitochondria, could be critical factors in the mechanisms of growth and aging processes, especially during phases of high oxidative stress that result in molecular damage. In the present study, liver and mitochondrial membrane phospholipid (PL) compositions were analyzed in rainbow trout during its four first years of life, a period characterized by rapid growth and high oxidative stress. Specifically, farmed fish of three ages (1-, 2- and 4-years) were studied, and PL compositions of whole liver and liver mitochondria, and fatty acid compositions of individual PL classes were determined. Liver mitochondrial membranes showed a PL composition different to that of the whole tissue suggesting adaptation of cell and subcellular membranes to specific functions. Individual PL had characteristic fatty acid compositions that were similar in whole liver and mitochondrial membranes. Whole liver and mitochondria showed increased lipid peroxidation with age along with changes in membrane PL fatty acid compositions. Most PL classes showed similar changes in fatty acid composition among the age groups, with reduced proportions of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and, generally, concomitantly increased levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, which together resulted in reduced peroxidation index (PIn). However, total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content did not change significantly with age due to increased eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and, in most PL, increased n−6 PUFA. These results suggest there may be oxidation of PL DHA with compensatory mechanisms to maintain membrane fluidity and function. However, modification of fatty acid composition of specific PLs, such as cardiolipin, could affect the electron transport chain efficiency and propagate the oxidative reaction throughout the cell. In addition, both the content and fatty acid composition of sphingomyelin, which has been suggested as a possible mediator of cell dysfunction and apoptosis, changed with age differently to the other PL classes. Moreover, these changes showed different trends between mitochondria and whole liver. These data suggest there is marked oxidative stress associated with rapid growth and maturation in rainbow trout. Changes observed in membrane lipids point to their possible participation in the processes involved in this species response to oxidative stress and damage accumulation rate.
- PublicationOpen AccessChronic administration of thiamine pyrophosphate decreases age-related histological atrophic testicular changes and improves sexual behavior in male Wistar rats(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Hernández-Montiel, H. L.; Vásquez López, C. M.; González-Loyola, J. G.; Vega-Anaya, G. C.; Villagrán-Herrera, M. E.; Gallegos-Corona, M. A.; Saldaña, C.; Ramos Gómez, M.; García Horshman, P.; García Solís, P.; Solís-S, J. C.; Robles-Osorio, M. L.; Ávila-Morales, J.; Varela-Echavarría, A.; Paredes Guerrero, R.Aging is a multifactorial universal process and constitutes the most important risk factor for chronic-degenerative diseases. Although it is a natural process, pathological aging arises when these changes occur quickly and the body is not able to adapt. This is often associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, and a decrease in the endogenous antioxidant systems, constituting a physiopathological state commonly found in chronicdegenerative diseases. At the testicular level, aging is associated with tissue atrophy, decreased steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, and sexual behavior disorders. This situation, in addition to the elevated generation of ROS in the testicular steroidogenesis, provides a critical cellular environment causing oxidative damage at diverse cellular levels. To assess the effects of a reduction in the levels of ROS, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) was chronically administered in senile Wistar rats. TPP causes an activation of intermediate metabolism routes, enhancing cellular respiration and decreasing the generation of ROS. Our results show an overall decrease of atrophic histological changes linked to aging, with higher levels of serum testosterone, sexual activity, and an increase in the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes in TPP-treated animals. These results suggest that TPP chronic administration decreases the progression of age-related atrophic changes by improving the intermediate metabolism, and by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes.
- PublicationOpen AccessCognitive Impairment After Sleep Deprivation Rescued by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Application in Octodon degus(2015) Estrada Esteban, C.; Fernández Gómez, F. J.; López López, D.; González Cuello, Ana María; Toledo Romero, Francisco; Fernández Villalba, Emiliano; Herrero Ezquerro, María Trinidad; Anatomía Humana y Psicobiología
