Female Prostate Development: Morphological Analysis of the Budding Dynamic.

The presence of the prostate in female mammals has long been known. However, pieces of information related to its development are still lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the budding dynamic during the initial prostate development in female gerbils.

Impact of fertilisation practices on soil respiration, as measured by the metabolic index of short-term nitrogen input behaviour.

The main objective of this study was the evaluation of the impact of different sources of organic waste (used as an N source) on soil quality (as measured by CO(2) release) and N transformation processes (available inorganic N forms) in a short-term field study of an almond tree plantation. Three compost types were used as organic fertilisers: EC compost constituted from organic agriculture farm (vegetables and manure), SC compost formed from sewage sludge and pruning waste composted, and XC compost comprised a mixture of composted sewage sludge plus slurry and manure from an intensive pig farm. The two compost doses were compared according to N content, and a high dose (H), corresponding to 210 kg N ha(-1), and a low dose (L), equivalent to 105 kg N ha(-1), were used.

Evidence-based veterinary dermatology: a systematic review of interventions for Malassezia dermatitis in dogs.

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of antifungal treatments for Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and, when possible, to propose recommendation for or against their use. Electronic searches were carried out using PubMed MEDLINE(R), CABDirect and CONSULTANT database. The volumes of Advances in Veterinary Dermatology, the proceedings of ESVD/ECVD and AAVD/ACVD congresses were hand-searched for studies relevant to this review.

Pyrenemethyl laurate, a new fluorescent substrate for continuous kinetic determination of lipase activity.

A fluorescent acyl derivative of pyrenemethanol, pyrenemethyl laurate, was synthesized and used for the determination of several lipases by a continuous kinetic assay. The influence of the physical parameters of the substrate (pyrenemethyl laurate) and its hydrolysis product (pyrenemethanol), on the fluorescence emission was studied. The hydrolysis of pyrenemethyl laurate could be monitored directly in a spectrofluorometer because of the very high monomeric emission of pyrenemethanol at about 375 nm, whereas an aqueous dispersion of pyrenemethyl laurate emitted at 475 nm ('excimeric').

Metabolism of pyrenedecanoic acid in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoid cell lines from normal subjects and from a patient with multisystemic lipid storage myopathy.

A lymphoid cell line has been established from a patient with multisystemic lipid storage myopathy and showed a major triacylglycerol storage, whereas the content of other neutral lipids and phospholipids was in the normal range. The metabolism of the triacylglycerols has been investigated in this lymphoid cell line from multisystemic lipid storage myopathy as well as in control cells through pulse-chase experiments using 10-(1-pyrene)decanoic acid (P10), a fluorescent fatty acid derivative, as precursor. After 1 h incubation, the uptake of P10 was not significantly different in multisystemic lipid storage myopathy and control lymphoid cells.

Independence of triacylglycerol-containing compartments in cultured fibroblasts from Wolman disease and multisystemic lipid storage myopathy.

The functional relationship between the two subcellular compartments involved in catabolism of triglycerides, i.e. lysosomes and lipid-containing cytoplasmic vacuoles, has been investigated using cultured fibroblasts from patients affected with two different genetic lipid (triacylglycerol) storage disorders: Wolman disease and multisystemic lipid storage myopathy.

Diffuse storage of vegetal wax hydrocarbons of dietary origin. Pathologic and chemical findings in a case.

A 55-year-old man died suddenly, after presenting with unstable angina and an asymptomatic micronodular pulmonary pattern. Autopsy revealed storage of a crystallized fatty substance in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, and lungs. In the latter organ, the deposition formed foreign body granulomas, accounting for the radiographic appearance.

Pyrene-methyl lauryl ester, a new fluorescent substrate for lipases: use for diagnosis of acid lipase deficiency in Wolman's and cholesteryl ester storage diseases.

Fluorescent pyrene-methyl lauryl ester (PMLes) was synthesized and used for the determination of cellular lipase activities in lymphoblasts and fibroblasts from normal subjects and from patients affected with Wolman's or cholesteryl ester storage diseases (both exhibiting a deficiency of the lysosomal acid lipase). The hydrolysis of PMLes by acid lipase could be followed directly in a spectrofluorometer; this was possible because of the very high fluorescence emission of pyrene-methanol at 378 nm (monomeric form) in aqueous medium, whereas the substrate has practically no monomeric emission at 378 nm but emits only at 475 nm (excimeric form) in the experimental conditions used: this property permitted us to use PMLes as a fluorogenic substrate. In an alternative procedure, the enzymatic reaction could be determined after partition of the reaction mixture in a biphasic system of heptane and aqueous ethanol; the residual undegraded substrate partitioned into the upper heptane phase and the fluorescence of the product (i.

Hydrolysis of fluorescent pyrenetriacylglycerols by lipases from human stomach and gastric juice.

Fluorescent triacylglycerols containing pyrenedecanoic (P10) and pyrenebutanoic (P4) acids were synthesized and their hydrolysis by lipases from human gastric juice and stomach homogenate was investigated. The existence in stomach homogenate of four different lipolytic enzymes hydrolyzing fluorescent triacylglycerols is suggested by the comparison of various enzymatic properties: acyl chain length specificity, heat inactivation and effect of detergents (Triton X-100 and taurocholate), serum albumin, diethyl-para-nitrophenyl phosphate (E600) and other inhibitors. (1) The acid pH4-lipase hydrolyzes P10-triacylglycerols but not P4-triacylglycerol and exhibited the characteristic properties of the lysosomal lipase: the maximal activating effect of detergents occurs at relatively high concentrations (the substrate/detergent optimal molar ratios were 1:5 and 1:25 for triacylglycerols/taurocholate and triacylglycerols/Triton X-100, respectively); its activity was strongly inhibited by para-chloromercuribenzoate (2.

Relative fluorescence of normal and acid lipase-deficient cultured fibroblasts following administration of pyrene decanoic acid.

Skin fibroblasts, derived from normal individuals or patients with Wolman's disease (an autosomal recessive disorder due to acid lysosomal lipase deficiency) were incubated with the fluorescent fatty acid, pyrene-decanoic acid (P10). Measurements of the fluorescence intensities of the total lipid extracts indicated that equal quantities of P10 were incorporated into both cell types. The fluorescence emitted by the intact cells was subsequently recorded in a fluorescence microscope equipped with a microdetector unit, which permitted determination of the fluorescence emitted by the intact cell or by specific regions thereof.

Use of a fluorescent radiolabeled triacylglycerol as a substrate for lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase.

A fluorescent radiolabeled triacylglycerol has been synthesized by using a fluorescent fatty acid (pyrene decanoic acid) and a radiolabeled oleic acid. This analog of the natural substrate, 1(3)pyrene decanoic-2,3 (1,2)-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol, has been tested as substrate for determining lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triacylglycerol lipase activities in post-heparin plasma. Optimal conditions for the determination of the two post-heparin plasma lipases were similar to those using radiolabeled triolein.

A new human pathology with visceral accumulation of long-chain n-alkanes; tissue distribution of the stored compounds and pathophysiological hypotheses.

This report deals with a new human disorder characterized by the accumulation of plant long-chain n-alkanes in viscera of a human patient. Lipid analysis of tissues from an adult male after sudden death (affected with diffuse visceral granuloma containing lipophilic crystallized material) showed the presence of abnormal compounds identified as long-chain n-alkanes with 29 (n-nonacosane), 31 (n-hentriacontane) and 33 carbons (n-tritriacontane). Study of n-alkane distribution in patient tissues showed a major accumulation in lumbo-aortic lymph nodes, adrenal glands, lung (the highest levels were found in lung granulomas) and liver; significantly lower amounts were detected in myocardium and kidney, whereas no detectable level was found in brain.

[Acid lipases and acid cholesterol esterases: Wolman's disease and cholesteryl ester storage disease].

In the first part of the review are reported the properties of mammalian acid lipases and cholesterol esterases. Lysosomal acid lipase differs from the other acid or neutral lipases by its subcellular localization and a large substrate specificity on natural lipids, triglycerides and cholesteryl esters and on semi-synthetic or synthetic coloured or fluorescent substrates; the enzymatic activity of acid lipase depends on the presence of detergents and phospholipids and the structural properties are well known. In vivo, lysosomal acid lipase hydrolyses neutral lipids from exogenous origin (lipoprotein).

Biochemical and ultrastructural features of human fibroblasts cultured from a new variant of type 3 lipid storage myopathy.

A new variant of multisystemic lipid storage myopathy (type 3) has been identified. Human cultured fibroblasts present a major triacylglycerol storage whereas other neutral lipids and phospholipids are in the normal range. When feeding the cells in the presence of radiolabelled oleic acid we observed an accumulation of radiolabelled triacylglycerols demonstrating the endogenous biosynthesis of the stored triacylglycerols.

Cholesterol esterases from normal and FEC hamster liver.

1. Synthetic cholesteryl esters with various acyl chain length (C2-C18) are hydrolysed by several enzymes in hamster liver. 2.

Extracellular origin of the lipid lysosomal storage in cultured fibroblasts from Wolman's disease.

The experiments reported here allowed us to compare the metabolism of neutral lipids from extracellular origin (lipoproteins) and endogenous origin (triacylglycerol biosynthesis induced by feeding cells with high levels of free fatty acid) in normal and acid-lipase-deficient fibroblasts (Wolman's disease). When the cells were grown in hyperlipemic-rich medium, a major neutral lipid storage appeared in normal as well as in acid-lipase-deficient cells; this storage disappeared rapidly in normal cells during the 'chase', whereas in Wolman cells, the storage of cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols remained unchanged, or only decreased very slowly. When the cells were fed with high levels of radiolabelled oleic acid, a major accumulation of radiolabelled triacylglycerols was observed.

Metabolism of 1-pyrenedecanoic acid and accumulation of neutral fluorescent lipids in cultured fibroblasts of multisystemic lipid storage myopathy.

The lipid metabolism in cultured fibroblasts from multisystemic (type 3) lipid storage myopathy and controls has been studied through pulse-chase experiments using 1-pyrenedecanoic acid as precursor. The uptake of 1-pyrenedecanoic acid was not significantly different in multisystemic lipid storage myopathy and control fibroblasts. The amount of fluorescent lipids synthesized by the cells was proportionally increasing with rising 1-pyrenedecanoic acid concentration in the culture medium.

Metabolism of neutral lipids in cultured fibroblasts from multisystemic (or type 3) lipid storage myopathy.

The lipid metabolism in cultured fibroblasts from multisystemic (type 3) lipid storage myopathy (MLSM) and controls has been studied through pulse-chase experiments using radiolabelled oleic acid and acetate precursors. The uptake of radiolabelled oleic acid by MLSM fibroblasts was slightly higher than in controls but did not seem to be the primary defect of the multisystemic lipid storage myopathy. The uptake of radiolabelled acetate was quite similar in MLSM and in control cells.

Acyl-chain specificity and properties of cholesterol esterases from normal and Wolman lymphoid cell lines.

Cholesteryl esters with various chain lengths of fatty acid, radioactive (C2-C18:1) and fluorescent (pyrene butanoic and decanoic acid, P4 and P10, respectively) were synthesized and their hydrolysis was investigated in lymphoid cell lines from normal subjects and from Wolman's disease patients. The comparison of their hydrolysis showed that three cholesterol esterases were present in normal lymphoid cell lines: the first, active at pH 4.0, hydrolysed preferentially cholesteryl esters of acyl chain length more than 8 carbons, and P10-cholesteryl ester.

Pulmonary lipogranulomatosis due to excessive consumption of apples.

A 55-year-old man was admitted for treatment of unstable angina. Chest x-ray films showed a micronodular pattern, but there were no respiratory symptoms. Autopsy, carried out following sudden death, revealed pulmonary granulomas surrounding lipid crystals.

Fluorometric assay for pancreatic lipase.

We report a new fluorometric assay in which a fluorescent triglyceride is used for determining lipase activity in serum, and we compare it with turbidimetric and radiometric methods. Because this fluorometric method is at least 50-fold more sensitive than the turbidimetric method, we have been able to develop a micromethod that requires only very small amounts of substrate reagent and serum. The use of fluorescent-labeled fatty acids allows direct determination of the product of lipase action and obviates the use of a standard for calibrating the method.