Efficient method for obtaining Lep(ob)/Lep(ob)-derived animal models using adipose tissue transplantations

Background: Leptin-deficient mice (Lep(ob)/Lep(ob), also known as ob/ob) are of great importance for studies of obesity, diabetes and other correlated pathologies. Thus, generation of animals carrying the Lep(ob) gene mutation as well as additional genomic modifications has been used to associate genes with metabolic diseases. However, the infertility of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) mice impairs this kind of breeding experiment. Objective: To propose a new method for production of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) animals and Lep(ob)/Lep(ob)-derived animal models by restoring the fertility of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) mice in a stable way through white adipose tissue transplantations. Methods: For this purpose, 1 g of peri-gonadal adipose tissue from lean donors was used in subcutaneous transplantations of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) animals and a crossing strategy was established to generate Lep(ob)/Lep(ob)-derived mice. Results: The presented method reduced by four times the number of animals used to generate double transgenic models (from about 20 to 5 animals per double mutant produced) and minimized the number of genotyping steps (from 3 to 1 genotyping step, reducing the number of Lep gene genotyping assays from 83 to 6). Conclusion: The application of the adipose transplantation technique drastically improves both the production of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) animals and the generation of Lep(ob)/Lep(ob)-derived animal models. International Journal of Obesity (2009) 33, 938-944; doi: 10.1038/ijo.2009.95; published online 16 June 2009

Prevention and reversion of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice by S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine treatment

Objective: To evaluate the role oral administration of S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC), a NO donor drug, in the prevention and reversion of NASH in two different animal models. Methods: NASH was induced in male ob/ob mice by methionine-choline deficient (MCD) and high-fat (H) diets. Two animal groups received or not SNAC orally for four weeks since the beginning of the treatment. Two other groups were submitted to MCD and H diets for 60 days receiving SNAC only from the 31(st) to the 60(th) day. Results: SNAC administration inhibited the development of NASH in all groups, leading to a marked decrease in macro and microvacuolar steatosis and in hepatic lipid peroxidation in the MCD group. SNAC treatment reversed the development of NASH in animals treated for 60 days with MCD or H diets, which received SNAC only from the 31(st) to the 60(th) day. Conclusions: Oral administration of SNAC markedly inhibited and reversed NASH induced by MCD and H diets in ob/ob mice.

Graecia Foederata sub Agamemnone, ob Helenae Raptum in Troiam coniurans / ex Homero collecta geographicis Gulielmi Sanson, Nicolai filii, Christianissimi Regis Geographi ; Lud[ovicus] Cordier sculpsit

Échelle(s) : [1:2 700 000 environ]

Reliure de : Georgii Agricolae de Re metallica libri XII, quibus officia, instrumenta, machinae ac omnia... ad metallicam spectantia non modo... describuntur, sed et per effigies... ob oculos ponuntur... Ejusdem de animantibus subterraneis liber...

Numérisation partielle de reliure

La visión teofánica en el sufismo de Ibn al-'Arabî (ob. 638/1240)

Un conocido dicho sufí dice que: "El color del agua es el color de su recipiente". Para hablar de la visión teofánica, al-Junayd, Ibn 'Arabi y otros muchos místicos invocaban frecuentemente este símbolo. Según al-Bistami, el color del recipiente -el corazón del contemplador- da "color" al agua que en sí es invisible; según Ibn 'Arabi, no es el corazón quien da su "color" a la Forma que recibe, sino que, a la inversa, el corazón del gnóstico "se colorea" en cada instante con el color, es decir, con la modalidad de la Forma bajo la cual el Ser divino se epifaniza en él. Así es como "l gnóstico,asume las peculiaridades del carácter de Dios, hasta tal punto que parece como si él fuera El". El propósito del presente artículo es analizar la teoría neoplatónica de la manifestación de lo divino expresada por medio de dos parábolas -el color del agua y el color del vidrio- presentes tanto en la tradición islámica como en la judía.

Nova mappa geographica Sueciae ac Gothiae regna ut et Finlandiae ducatum ac Lapponiam, cum provinciis minoribus, ob oculos ponens, cura et sumtibus Tobiae Conradi Lotter, chalcogr et geogr: Augustae Vindel.

Alareunassa privilegiomerkintä: Cum gratia et privil. s. r. i. vicariatq, in partibq Rheni, Sveviae, et juris Franconici.

Swimming training down-regulates plasma leptin levels, but not adipose tissue ob mRNA expression

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of endurance training on leptin levels and adipose tissue gene expression and their association with insulin, body composition and energy intake. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: trained (N = 18) and sedentary controls (N = 20). The trained group underwent swimming training for 9 weeks. Leptin and insulin levels, adiposity and leptin gene expression in epididymal and inguinal adipose tissue were determined after training. There were no differences in energy intake between groups. Trained rats had a decreased final body weight (-10%), relative and total body fat (-36 and -55%, respectively) and insulin levels (-55%) compared with controls (P < 0.05). Although trained animals showed 56% lower leptin levels (2.58 ± 1.05 vs 5.89 ± 2.89 ng/mL in control; P < 0.05), no difference in leptin gene expression in either fat depot was demonstrable between groups. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that lower leptin levels in trained rats were due primarily to their lower body fat mass. After adjustment for total body fat, leptin levels were still 20% (P < 0.05) lower in exercised rats. In conclusion, nine weeks of swimming training did not affect leptin gene expression, but did lead to a decrease in leptin levels that was independent of changes in body fat.

Leptin receptor (Ob-R) mRNA expression and serum leptin concentration in patients with colorectal and metastatic colorectal cancer

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of leptin on the progression of colorectal carcinoma to metastatic disease by analyzing the serum leptin concentration and Ob-R gene expression in colon cancer tissues. Tissue samples were obtained from 31 patients who underwent surgical resection for colon (18 cases) and metastatic colon (13 cases) cancer. Serum leptin concentration was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Ob-R mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for both groups. ELISA data were analyzed by the Student t-test and RT-PCR data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. RT-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA expression of Ob-R in human metastatic colorectal cancer was higher than in local colorectal cancer tissues. On the other hand, mean serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in local colorectal cancer patients compared to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The results of the present study suggest a role for leptin in the progression of colon cancer to metastatic disease without weight loss. In other words, significantly increased Ob-R mRNA expression and decreased serum leptin concentration in patients with metastatic colon cancer indicate that sensitization to leptin activity may be a major indicator of metastasis to the colon tissue and the determination of leptin concentration and leptin gene expression may be used to aid the diagnosis.