亚甲基蓝对冈田酸所致SK-N-SH细胞分化神经元损伤的保护作用

目的：考察亚甲基蓝（methylene blue,MB）对冈田酸（okadaic acid,OA）所致分化神经元损伤的保护作用,并探究其作用机制。方法：采用全反式维甲酸诱导SK-N-SH人神经母细胞瘤细胞分化为成熟神经元细胞;OA诱导分化神经元损伤模拟阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）神经元损伤;磺酰罗丹明B法检测MB对神经元细胞活性的影响;Giemsa染色法观察细胞形态变化;Western blotting检测突触素蛋白、磷酸化tau蛋白（p-tau）的表达水平。结果：全反式维甲酸可浓度依赖性抑制SK-N-SH细胞增殖,10 μmol/L全反式维甲酸处理SK-N-SH细胞7 d后,细胞突触明显伸长,出现典型神经元特征;以40 nmol/L OA构建AD模型;MB可浓度依赖性抑制分化的SK-N-SH细胞活性,与OA组相比,随着MB浓度增加,细胞轴突长度与胞体长度比值增大,细胞突触变长,MB改善了OA所致的细胞突触损伤,突触素蛋白表达量明显升高（P＜0.01）,p-tau（Ser262）蛋白水平明显降低（P＜0.01）。结论：MB对OA所造成的分化SK-N-SH神经元细胞突触损伤有保护作用,可防止AD中tau蛋白的过度磷酸化。     

Inhibition of cell growth by Stellera chamaejasme extract is associated with induction of autophagy and differentiation in chronic leukemia K562 cells

Stellera chamaejasme has been used as a therapeutic plant for treatment of various inflammatory diseases and solid tumors. Our study was particularly interested in the differentiation inducing activity of the aerial parts of S.chamaejasme using human chronic leukemia cell line K562. The ethanol extract has been shown to be highly cytotoxic against K562 cells at > 0.008% (v/v) doses. Cell cycle arrest at G₀/G₁ phase, not detectable DNA fragmentation as well as positive staining with acridine orange and expression of beclin-1 protein in the treated cells led as to detect autophagic cell death during the plant extract treatment of K562 cells. Moreover, differentiation marker CD11b was also expressed in the treated cells.     

Recommendations guidelines on the key information to be reported in studies of application of PEF technology in food and biotechnological processes

The application of pulsed electric field (PEF) technology as a non-thermal cell membrane permeabilization treatment, was widely demonstrated widely to be effective in microbial inactivation studies, as well as to increase the rates of heat and mass transfer phenomena in food and biotechnological processes (drying, osmotic treatment, freezing, extraction, and diffusion). Nevertheless, most published papers on the topic do not provide enough information for other researchers to assess results properly. A general rule/guidance in reporting experimental data and most of all exposure conditions, would be to report details to the extent that other researchers will be able to repeat, judge and evaluate experiments and data obtained. This is what is described in the present recommendation paper.Industrial relevancePulsed electric field (PEF) treatment is a promising technology that has received considerable attention in food and biotechnology related applications food and biotechnology related applications of PEF include:

• i)“cold” pasteurization of liquid foods and disinfection of wastewater by microbial inactivation
• ii)PEF-assisted processing (drying, extraction or expression)

     

Biochanin A: A phytoestrogen with therapeutic potential

BackgroundBiochanin A, a bioactive constituent obtained from Trifolium pratense (red clover) and many other legumes, has drawn considerable attention of researchers in recent years owing to its wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. It exhibits multifaceted biological activities viz. neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, osteogenic, anti-hyperglycemic and protective effect on endothelial cell integrity and function. The therapeutic potential of this isoflavone has been explored in various in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo models. However, in vivo evidences are limited due to its low bioavailability.Scope and approachThis review highlights the therapeutic potential of biochanin A along with the methods of its extraction, isolation and identification, and supplemented further with approaches to enhance its bioavailability. The various molecular targets through which it displays different biological roles have also been spotlighted.Key findings and conclusionBiochanin A, a potent molecule exhibits its molecular actions by targeting different phases of cell cycle; various signal transduction pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR γ). In cancer cells, biochanin A suppresses the activation of Akt and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and also increases the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) in other cellular models. Despite its huge potential, the clinical use of this isoflavone is limited due to its low bioavailability. Various strategies developed to enhance the bioavailability of biochanin A have led to foresee the potential of this promising molecule to increase the health benefits in future.     

Impact of a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative on contact lens wettability

PurposeTo investigate the interaction of a novel low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative containing hydrophobic groups with soft contact lenses and its effect on lens hydrophilicity compared with a conventional form of hyaluronic acid.MethodsThis investigation studied the uptake of fluorescently-labelled hyaluronic acid and a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative to four types of contact lenses using fluorescent microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Further, the four lens types were used to compare efficacy in improving hydrophilicity, as well as maintenance of contact angle measurements, in commercially available multipurpose solutions that contained either hyaluronic acid, the low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative, or an alternative wetting agent.ResultsThe low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative was found to sorb more readily to silicone hydrogel lenses and exhibit a greater accumulation over time than conventional hyaluronic acid. Multipurpose solutions containing the low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative showed an increase in lens hydrophilicity through decreases in contact angle measurements when compared with those obtained from lenses treated with multipurpose solutions containing conventional hyaluronic acid or alternative wetting agents. This increase in lens hydrophilicity associated with the low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative was also maintained over multiple cycles in phosphate buffered saline, while alternative solutions with conventional hyaluronic acid did not.ConclusionOverall, lens treatment using a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid derivative-based solution lead to improved in vitro lens hydrophilicity.     

Randomised trial of the clinical utility of an eyelid massage device for the management of meibomian gland dysfunction

PurposeTo compare the single application and two week treatment effects of device-applied (Eyepeace) and manually-applied eyelid massage techniques, as an adjunct to warm compress therapy, on ocular surface and tear film parameters.MethodsTwenty participants (11 females, 9 males; mean age, 27 ± 11 years) with dry eye symptoms were recruited in a two week, investigator-masked, randomised, contralateral-eye trial. Following 10 min of warm compress therapy application (MGDRx EyeBag^®) on both eyes, eyelid massage therapy was applied to one eye (randomised) by device, and to the fellow eye by manual eyelid massage, once daily for 14 days. Ocular surface and tear film measurements were conducted at baseline, and 15 min post-application by a clinician, then again after 14 days of self-administered daily treatment at home.ResultsBaseline clinical measurements did not differ between the treatment groups (all p > 0.05). Following two weeks of treatment, tear film lipid layer grade improved significantly with device massage (p = 0.008), and was marginally greater than manual massage by less than 1 grade (p = 0.03). Although immediate post-treatment improvements in tear film stability were observed in both groups (both p < 0.05), no significant long-term cumulative effects or inter-treatment differences in stability measures were detected (all p > 0.05). Visual acuity, tear meniscus height, conjunctival hyperaemia, ocular surface staining, and meibomian gland dropout did not change during the treatment period (all p > 0.05).ConclusionsTwo weeks of treatment with the eyelid massage device, as an adjunct to warm compress therapy, effected marginally greater improvements in tear film lipid layer thickness than the conventional manual technique, which were statistically but not clinically significant. Future parallel group trials with longer treatment periods and a greater range of disease severity are required.     

氨基酸自动分析仪对牛乳中羟脯氨酸快速测定方法研究

目的 建立运用氨基酸自动分析仪快速测定牛乳中羟脯氨酸的方法.方法 牛乳经水解,羟脯氨酸与茚三酮反应,生成黄色产物,在仪器的第二通道440 nm处有最大吸收峰,且在一定的浓度范围内符合朗伯比尔定律.以柠檬酸盐缓冲溶液为流动相,将羟脯氨酸和其他17种氨基酸同时分离,440 nm定量.结果 浓度在0.05～1.0 mmol/L范围内吸收度呈良好线性关系(r=0.9999),平均回收率为91.5％,RSD为1.3％(n=5),方法最低检出限0.66 mg/L.结论 该方法快速、简便、准确,可靠,适合于牛乳中羟脯氨酸的定量分析.     

Biomarker of long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake and breast cancer: Accumulative evidence from an updated meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to summarize the up-to-date epidemiology evidence on biomarkers of long-chain (LC) n-3 fatty acid (FA) intake in relation to breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Epidemiology studies determining FA levels in biospecimen (circulating blood or adipose tissue (AT)) were identified from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases until March 2018. Multivariate-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effect model. Difference in biospecimen proportions of LC n-3 FA between BC cases and non-cases were analyzed as a standardized mean difference (SMD).

Results: Thirteen cohort and eleven case-control studies were eligible for the present meta-analysis. The estimated SMD was -0.14 (95% CI: -0.27, -0.11) for LC n-3 FA and -0.27 (95% CI: -0.42, -0.11) for LC n-3/n-6 FA ratio. When comparing the top tertiles with the bottom baseline levels, circulating LC n-3 FA was significantly associated with a lower risk of BC (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.96), but not AT (RR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.48). Significant inverse dose-response associations were observed for each 1% increment of circulating 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis highlights that circulating LC n-3 FA as a biomarker of intake may be an independent predictive factor for BC, especially 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3.     

Changes in visual quality with soft contact lenses after the instillation of hyaluronic acid eye drops

PurposeTo evaluate the changes in visual function and anterior surface aberrations during soft contact lens (SCL) wear after the instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) eye drops with different viscosity.MethodsA prospective, randomized, and participant-masked study was performed. Twenty healthy participants (25.4 ± 2.6 years) were evaluated. Hydrogel (Ocufilcon D) and silicone-hydrogel (Somofilcon A) SCL were randomly assigned to both eyes of the same participant. Visual function in terms of high- and low-contrast corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and anterior contact lens surface aberrations (RMS HOA) were measured before and after the instillation, at different times, of different eye drops: saline (control) and 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% HA.ResultsCompared with the saline solution, during hydrogel SCL wear, there was an improvement (P < 0.05) in high-contrast CDVA after 3 and 10 min with 0.1% HA, and after 5 and 20 min with 0.2% HA. During silicone-hydrogel SCL wear, there was a deterioration (P < 0.05) in high-contrast CDVA after 1 and 30 min with 0.3% HA. Additionally, during silicone-hydrogel SCL wear, there was also a deterioration (P < 0.05) in low-contrast CDVA after 5 and 20 min with 0.3% HA. In terms of RMS HOA, there were no clinically relevant changes with both SCL.ConclusionsThe instillation of HA eye drops could have a different effect on visual quality depending on their concentration of HA, the contact lens material, its surface ionicity, or other physicochemical properties that should be studied in future studies.     

The sequence of a 24 152 bp segment from the left arm of chromosome XIV from Saccharomyces cerevisiae between the BNI1 and the POL2 genes

In the framework of the European Union programme for sequencing the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae we have determined the nucleotide sequence of a region of 24 152 bp located on the left arm of chromosome XIV between the BNI1 and the POL2 genes. The sequence was obtained by directed sequence analysis using a mixture of ExoIII and primer walking strategies. Subsequent analysis revealed 13 open reading frames (ORFs) including four small ORFs completely internal to, or partly overlapping with, other ORFs. Five of these ORFs have been described previously (BNI1, APL1, LYP1, PIK1, POL2) and thus 74·8% of the 24 152 bp were already present in the databases prior to this sequencing effort. Interestingly, all 13 identified ORFs are characterized by a low codon adaptation index (0·04–0·22). In addition, this region of chromosome XIV shows an unusually high gene density with about 88% of coding DNA. This amounts to one gene per 2177 bp, which is significantly above the average gene length (about 1500 bp). For eight ORFs considerable homologies to ‘Expressed Sequence Tags’ derived from human cDNAs located in the XREF database could be identified. The complete nucleotide sequence of the 24 152 bp segment has been deposited in the EMBL data library under the Accession Number X92494.     

Treatment of contact lens related dry eye with intense pulsed light

AimThe prevalence of contact lens related dry eye (CLDE) is high and can lead to ocular discomfort, reduced quality of vision and life. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment in alleviating signs and symptoms of CLDE.DesignProspective, randomised, examiner masked study.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted on 152 eyes of 76 patients (IPL group, n = 76 eyes; control group, n = 76 eyes) wearing contact lens (CL) and experiencing CLDE for more than 1 year. The IPL treatment group underwent two IPL treatment sessions at 3-week intervals while the control group received sham IPL treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), non-invasive breakup time (NITBUT), tear film lipid layer (TFLL) quality, fluorescein staining (FS), meibum gland (MG) quality and expression, endothelial cell count (ECC) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed at baseline (D-0), day-21 (D-21) and day-42 (D-42) after IPL treatment.ResultsThe mean age of treatment group and control group was 28.47 ± 5.16 years (21 females, 28 %) and 28.58 ± 4.33 years (23 females, 30 %) respectively. IPL treatment group had clinically and statistically significant improvement in mean NITBUT was observed at D14 (5.24 s, P<0.001) and D28 (6.08 s, P<0.001). OSDI, TFLL score and MG quality and expressibility all improved significantly (P<0.001) at D-42, whereas BCVA, ECC and IOP showed no significant changes at D-21 and D-42 in IPL treatment group. The control group showed no significant improvement in all parameters at D-21 and D-42.ConclusionOur findings suggest that CL related DE can be safely alleviated with IPL treatment as it reduced the severity of symptoms, improved the overall tear film stability and reduced artificial tear use in participants with CLDE.     

Combination of green tea, phytic acid, and inositol reduced the incidence of azoxymethane-induced colon tumors in Fisher 344 male rats

Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between consumption of nutritive/non-nutritive foods of plant origin and colon cancer incidence. This study was conducted to determine the effect of green tea, phytic acid, and inositol at 2 g/100 ml levels singly and in combination on azoxymethane (AOM) induced colon tumors in Fisher 344 male rats. After an acclimatization period of one week, 8 groups of rats (15 rats each) were initially assigned to consume AIN 93G and later AIN 93M diet. All treatments were given in drinking water. All the rats received 16 mg/kg body mass AOM, two s/c injections at seven and eight week of age. Rats were killed at 46 week of age by CO₂ euthanasia. Tumor incidence (percent) and tumors per tumor-bearing rat (TBR) in the control were significantly higher (P<0.05) than all treatment groups. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was significantly higher in treatment groups compared to control. These findings suggest that the additive effect of green tea, phytic acid and inositol may reduce the incidence of colon tumors, and can also be used as an adjuvant to chemomodulation.     

Towards a better understanding of the pectin structure–function relationship in broccoli during processing: Part II — Analyses with anti-pectin antibodies

To investigate the structure–function relationship of pectin during (pre)processing, broccoli samples (Brassica oleracea L. cultivar italica) were subjected to one of the following pretreatments: (i) low-temperature blanching (LTB), (ii) LTB in combination with Ca²⁺ infusion, (iii) high-pressure pretreatment (HP), (iv) HP in combination with Ca²⁺ infusion, or (v) no pretreatment (control sample), whether or not in combination with a thermal treatment of 15 min at 90 °C. Anti-homogalacturonan antibodies were used to perform in situ (microscopy) and ex situ (immuno-dot assays) analyses on broccoli pectin which resulted in information concerning the localisation of defined pectic domains in broccoli cell walls and pectin's structure. Water-soluble pectin appears to contain unbranched, high-esterified pectin and some pectic polymers with abundant side chains that are less esterified. Ionically cross-linked pectin, on the other hand, contains low-esterified pectin with either highly branched or unbranched domains. The in situ visualisation of pectin in broccoli suggested that de-esterification of pectin by PME during LTB as well as during HP mainly takes place in the tricellular junctions of adjacent cells in broccoli tissue. Ca²⁺-cross-linked pectin could be found in cell walls lining intercellular spaces and was particularly abundant at the corners of intercellular spaces, indicating its important role in cell–cell adhesion. Both LTB and HP created pectin–Ca²⁺-cross-links in parts of the cell wall where these cross-links were originally absent. The influence of thermal processing and the effect of pressurisation on the pectic components in the cell wall could also be visualised using the antibodies.     

Effect of CO2 dissolution on the shelf life of ready-to-eat Octopus vulgaris

Due to the increasing commercial importance of octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and the growing demand for convenient and ready-to-eat products, soluble gas solubilisation (SGS), a relatively recent methodology of active packaging proposed to extend the shelf life of packaged fish, was tested. The effect on cooked octopus of CO₂ dissolution applied in a 2 bar saturated atmosphere for 30 min was followed by sensory, microbiological and physical/chemical quality parameters of vacuum packed products during chilled (3 °C ± 0.5 °C) and abuse temperature (24 °C ± 0.5 °C) storage for 28 days and 48 h, respectively. The SGS pre-treatment of cooked octopus with CO₂ had a positive effect on the delay of the microbial growth during chilled storage. On the other hand, during the acceptability period TMA-N and TVB-N showed similar changes during storage period and were not affected by the CO₂ treatment. Oxidation of cooked octopus did not appear to be a significant problem during chilled storage. Sensory shelf life was estimated as 10 days and 12 h in chilled and abuse temperature storage, respectively and no significant extension was visible as a function of SGS treatment. Though not enough per se to increase the shelf life of cooked octopus, the use of SGS by the food industry as a hurdle technology component with bacteriostatic effect is a valuable tool to allow an effective extension of the period of use-by date.

Industrial relevance

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a highly appreciated marine species which requires at home a cooking step that entails some expertise, in order to attain the correct sensory quality, namely suitable tenderness. Supply of ready-to-eat products that offer healthy, tasty and fast meal solutions and that solves the problem of home preparation of octopus is of particular industrial relevance and stresses the need for new ways of marketing this species, other than in the fresh state. The current study aimed to develop a new seafood product that can be introduced in the market as fresh cooked octopus in a convenient package under vacuum, either as a ready-made meal or as a ready-to-be used product, to be further processed in more elaborated food preparations. To our knowledge no such product exists in the market and this is the first study dedicated to the evaluation of the shelf life of such a product and to a new active packaging technology that can extend the use-by date. Though not enough per se to increase the shelf life of cooked octopus, it is demonstrated that utilisation of CO₂ by the food industry, as a hurdle technology component with bacteriostatic effect under the conditions proposed, is a valuable tool to allow an effective extension of the period of use-by date.     

Application of whey protein isolate in bone regeneration: Effects on growth and osteogenic differentiation of bone-forming cells

Recently, milk-derived proteins have attracted attention for applications in the biomedical field such as tissue regeneration. Whey protein isolate (WPI), especially its main component β-lactoglobulin, can modulate immunity and acts as an antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, and antibacterial agent. There are very few reports of the application of WPI in tissue engineering, especially in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we tested the influence of different concentrations of WPI on behavior of human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells, human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC), and human neonatal dermal fibroblasts (FIB). The positive effect on growth was apparent for Saos-2 cells and FIB but not for ASC. However, the expression of markers characteristic for early osteogenic cell differentiation [type-I collagen (COL1) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] as well as ALP activity, increased dose-dependently in ASC. Importantly, Saos-2 cells were able to deposit calcium in the presence of WPI, even in a proliferation medium without other supplements that support osteogenic cell differentiation. The results indicate that, depending on the cell type, WPI can act as an enhancer of cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, enrichment of biomaterials for bone regeneration with WPI seems a promising approach, especially due to the low cost of WPI.     

Topical ivermectin-metronidazole gel therapy in the treatment of blepharitis caused by Demodex spp.: A randomized clinical trial

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of topical ivermectin-metronidazole combined therapy in the management of Demodex-associatedblepharitis.MethodsSixty patients with a diagnosis of Demodex-associatedblepharitis were recruited in a randomized clinical trial. Thirty receiving topical ivermectin (0.1%)-metronidazole (1%) gel treatment on days 0, 15 and 30. Thirty additional patients were used as a control group receiving vehicle on days 0, 15 and 30. The primary efficacy measure was the number of Demodex spp. mitesin the eyelashes of patients. The secondary outcomes included clinical improvement of signs and adverse events.ResultsComplete eradication of Demodex spp. was found in 96.6% of patients in the treatment group. Furthermore, a significant reduction of inflammation signs were found in all treated patients versus controls. None of the patients experienced any adverse effects associated with the treatment.ConclusionDemodex infection was controlled satisfactorily with the ivermectin (0.1%)-metronidazole (1%) gel, and no adverse effects were observed. Application of this gel for the treatment of different parasitic infections of the eyelids could be feasible, and this requires further exploration.     

Flaxseed oil reduces the growth of human breast tumors (MCF‐7) at high levels of circulating estrogen

Flaxseed (FS) has been shown to attenuate mammary tumorigenesis, possibly due to its high α‐linolenic acid (ALA)‐rich oil (FSO) content. This study determined the effect of FSO on the growth of estrogen receptor‐positive human breast tumors (MCF‐7) in ovariectomized athymic mice at high premenopausal‐like estrogen (E2) levels. Mice with established MCF‐7 tumors were fed basal diet (control) or basal diet supplemented with FSO (40 g/kg) for 8 wks. Compared with control, FSO reduced tumor size (33%, p<0.05) and tumor cell proliferation (38%, p<0.05) and increased apoptosis (110%, p<0.001). FSO also reduced human epidermal growth factor receptor‐2 (79%, p<0.05) and epidermal growth factor receptor (57%, p=0.057) expression, which then may have led to a reduction in Akt (54%, p<0.05) and phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) to phosphorylated MAPK (pMAPK, 28%, p<0.05). Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, MAPK and phosphorylated Akt were not affected. FSO increased (p<0.001) serum ALA, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and, in vitro, ALA reduced MCF‐7 cell proliferation (33%, p<0.001). Thus, FSO regressed estrogen receptor‐positive human breast tumorigenesis at high E2 levels via downregulation of the growth factor mediated pathway, likely through its ALA content, and may explain the anti‐tumorigenicity of FS.     

Hepatic and extrahepatic expression of serum amyloid A3 during lactation in dairy cows

Serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) is the predominant SAA isoform secreted by mammary epithelial cells in dairy cows; it is also expressed in bovine adipose tissue (AT). The adipokine SAA3 is linked to obesity and insulin resistance of AT and the respective inflammatory response, at least in mice. Dietary treatment with conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) reportedly also affects insulin sensitivity and inflammatory status in monogastrics. Both SAA3 and CLA thus seem to alter similar functions. Based on changes in insulin sensitivity and the inflammatory status throughout lactation, we hypothesized that the mRNA abundance of SAA3 in various tissues might be regulated as well and that CLA could be a modulator of SAA3 mRNA expression. In 2 trials, 21 pluriparous and 25 primiparous Holstein cows were fed 100 g/d of a CLA or a control fat supplement from d 1 to 182 or 105 postpartum, respectively. Biopsies from liver and subcutaneous (s.c.) AT from pluriparous cows and samples from 3 different visceral AT and 3 s.c. AT, muscle, mammary gland, and liver tissue from slaughtered primiparous cows were obtained. In an adipocyte cell culture system, cell samples were collected during differentiation of bovine preadipocytes at d 0, 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 13 relative to the onset of differentiation. The SAA3 mRNA abundance in tissues and in differentiating bovine preadipocytes was measured by real-time PCR. The presence of the SAA protein was confirmed by Western blotting. Treatment with CLA yielded only few and inconsistent effects on SAA3 mRNA abundance. In both trials, SAA3 mRNA peaked at d 1 postpartum in all tissues except in mesenteric AT, in which the change was not significant. The highest SAA3 mRNA expression was observed in the mammary gland, followed by omental AT. The SAA protein was present in the visceral and s.c. AT depots investigated. Adipocytes as one source of SAA3 were confirmed by the SAA3 mRNA profile in differentiating adipocytes. The longitudinal changes observed point to SAA3 being involved in the inflammatory situation around parturition.