Biology subjects

Hugo, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Hugo, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Lysophophatidyl-choline 16:0 mediates persistent joint pain through Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 3: preclinical and clinical evidences

Rheumatic diseases are often associated to debilitating chronic joint pain, which remains difficult to treat and requires new therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe increased content of lysophosphatidyl-choline (LPC) 16:0 in the knee synovial fluids of two independent cohorts of patients with painful joint diseases. If LPC16:0 levels correlated with pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), they do not appear to be the hallmark of a particular joint disease. We found that intra-articular injections of LPC16:0 in mouse produce chronic pain and anxiety-like behaviors in both males and females with no apparent inflammation, peripheral nerve sprouting and damage, nor bone alterations. LPC16:0-induced persistent pain state is dependent on peripheral Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 3 (ASIC3), ultimately leading to central sensitization. LPC16:0 and ASIC3 thus appear as key players of chronic joint pain with potential implications in OA and possibly across others rheumatic diseases.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Effects of dietary replacement of broiler litter with Melia azedarach foliage on productive performance, fatty acid composition and health-related fatty acid indices in beef fats from Nguni x Brahman steers fed sugarcane tops based diets

The study investigated the nutritional value of M. azedarach Linn. (umsilinga; Meliaceae family) leaf meal (MALM) as an alternative protein source for beef cattle. In a completely randomised design (CRD), 18 Nguni x Brahman 18-20 months old steers were randomly offered 3 iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous dietary treatments with, respectively, 0% (Control), 15% and 30% MALM replacing broiler litter, each with 6 replicate animals, for 90 days. Feed intake (FI), water intake (WI), slaughter weight, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and kidney fat depot fatty acid (FA) composition as well as health-related FA totals, ratios and other indices were measured. Results showed MALM contained rather high CP (290.0 g/kg DM), CF (170 g/kg DM), EE (78.1 g/kg DM) and ash (77.5 g/kg DM) contents. Also, dietary supplementation with MALM increased BWG and FCE (P < 0.01) but had no effect on FI, WI and slaughter weight of steers (P > 0.05). Also, it increased kidney fat margaric acid (P < 0.05) whilst it decreased arachidic acid (P < 0.01) content. There was no effect of diet on the content of all other saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (P > 0.05) in kidney fat. Further, dietary MALM supplementation increased kidney fat -linolenic (P < 0.001) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (P = 0.01) but had no effect on the content of all other unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) components (P > 0.05). Furthermore, it increased kidney fat total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (P < 0.01), total omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs (P < 0.001) and the CLA/vaccenic acid index but decreased the omega-6/omega-3 (n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA) ratio (P = 0.001). Otherwise, dietary MALM supplementation had no effect on all other FA totals, ratios and health-related indices (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary MALM supplementation improved productive performance of beef steers and enhanced their desirable meat fat FA profiles.\n\nImplicationsBroiler litter is widely used as an alternative cheap protein and mineral rich feedstuffs for supplementing poor quality forage based diets for ruminants in Southern Africa and elsewhere. However, its use is limited by the presence of human pathogens, pesticides, drug residues and heavy metals, which pose health hazards to livestock and human consumers. Our study demonstrated MALM as a better and safer alternative source of protein, the use of which in beef cattle diets would improve animal productivity and the desirable FA profile of meat which would potentially enhance the health status of consumers. By improving beef productivity, dietary MALM supplementation thus promises to enhance food and nutrition security and to contribute to poverty alleviation in Eswatini, Africa and beyond.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Effects of dietary replacement of broiler litter with Mucuna pruriens utilis forage and seed meal on performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical and physiological parameters in indigenous goats

The productivity of indigenous goats in Africa is constrained by shortage of protein-rich feed especially in winter. This study investigated the nutritional value of mucuna forage (MF) and seed meal (MSM) as alternative protein sources for indigenous goats. Mucuna was planted in 3 parallel and adjacent fields and its foliage nutritional composition determined at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after planting (WAP). MF was harvested at 14 WAP whilst mucuna pods were harvested at 28 - 30 WAP, shelled and the MSM chemically analysed. In a completely randomised design (CRD), 20 indigenous goats were randomly offered 5 treatment diets with, respectively, 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% MF and 100% MSM replacing broiler litter (BL), each with 4 replicates, for 82 days. Both mucuna foliage DM and CF contents increased (P < 0.001) whilst foliage CP, EE and ash contents decreased (P<0.001) with maturity. On the other hand, MSM contained high DM (90.7%), EE (3.7% DM) and CP (26.0% DM) but low CF (9.7% DM) and ash (5.5% DM) contents. Both body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were not influenced by dietary mucuna incorporation (P > 0.05). However, dietary MF, particularly at the 100% level, decreased goat feed intake (FI) (P < 0.001) whilst 100% MSM increased (P < 0.001) this parameter. Mucuna had no effect on all carcass characteristics (P > 0.05) but increased (P < 0.05), particularly at the 100% MSM level, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage. There were no effects of mucuna on all biochemical and haematological indices (P > 0.05), except for the increase in serum glucose (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the optimal stage for harvesting and utilisation of MF is between 12 and 16 WAP and both MF and MSM, particularly the latter, are rich alternative protein sources for indigenous goats.

physiology↗