Vitamin E and Non-Communicable Diseases: A Review.

Vitamin E, a nutrient found in several foods, comprises eight lipophilic vitamers, the α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and the α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols. This vitamin is capable of exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and acting as immunomodulators. Despite these well-known biological activities, the findings regarding the ability of vitamin E and its serum metabolites to prevent and/or control chronic disease are often conflicting and inconsistent.

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) for the study of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) on the isolated frog skin (Pelophylax bergeri): A non-invasive method for environmental monitoring.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological tissues of elected biosentinels represent an optimal biomarker for eco-monitoring of polluted areas. Electron spin resonance (ESR) is the most definitive method for detecting, quantifying and possibly identifying radicals in complex systems.

Objective: A non-invasive method for monitoring polluted areas by the quantitative determination of ROS in frog skin biopsy is presented.

Reactive oxygen species and glutathione antioxidants in the testis of the soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque 1810).

Important toxicological achievements have been made during the last decades using reptiles. We focus our investigation on gonadal reproductive health of the soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula which is very sensitive to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The aim of this study is to quantitatively detect, by sensitive microassays, reactive oxygen species and the glutathione antioxidants in the testis and investigate if they are differentially expressed before and after remediation of a site of the "Land of Fires" (Campania, Italy) subject to illicit dumping of unknown material.

Roles of reactive oxygen species in the spermatogenesis regulation.

Spermatogenesis is a complex process of male germ cells proliferation and maturation from diploid spermatogonia, through meiosis, to mature haploid spermatozoa. The process involves dynamic interactions between the developing germ cells and their supporting Sertoli cells. The gonadal tissue, with abundance of highly unsaturated fatty acids, high rates of cell division, and variety of testis enzymes results very vulnerable to the overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The amphibian (Rana esculenta) brain progesterone receptor: relationship to plasma steroids and vitellogenic cycle during the gonadal recovery phase.

We report the presence of a progesterone receptor (PR) in the brain of the female amphibian Rana esculenta and changes in the levels of this PR during the gonadal recovery phase in relation to different circulating steroid levels and steroid treatment. The highest level of the PR in the nuclear brain extract corresponded to a low level of plasma progesterone and occurred when vitellogenin synthesis was at a minimum. The lowest level was found during follicular growth, concomitant with increased plasma 17beta-estradiol and progesterone levels.