Biochemistry-Scholarly Publications

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    Open Access
    Nicotinamide Ameliorates Serum C-Peptide and Brain Tryptophan Levels in STZ-Induced Diabetic Sprague- Dawley Rats
    (International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2015) Ebuehi, O.A.T.; Fregene, C.; Ihegboro, G.O.
    Metabolic complications of Type-1 diabetes mellitus are a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Nicotinamide treatment has been reported to reverse pancreatic beta cell damage and used to prevent Type-1 diabetes mellitus. The effects of nicotinamide on fasting blood glucose, serum C-peptide and brain tryptophan have not been fully investigated. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of nicotinamide on fasting blood glucose, serum C-peptide and brain tryptophan levels in Streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats. Type-1 diabetes was induced by intra peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (55mg/kg) using Sprague-Dawley rats. After 2 days, the rats were divided into diabetic control and nicotinamide-treatment group. Nicotinamide was orally administered at daily doses of 375mg/kg and 500mg/kg for a period of 4 weeks, while another group of rats without this treatment served as control. The diabetic control group showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in fasting blood glucose, but a decrease in serum C–Peptide and brain tryptophan levels compared with the control. Treatments with 375mg/kg and 500mg/kg nicotinamide showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, but an increase in serum C-peptide and brain tryptophan levels compared with diabetic control. Data of the study indicate that nicotinamide may prevent diabetic complications by alleviating its metabolic symptoms of hyperglycemia and polyphagia, which may ameliorates pancreatic islet cell damage in diabetic rats.
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    Open Access
    Postmortem Time Affects Brain, Liver, Kidney and Heart DNA in Male Rat
    (American Journal of Biochemistry, 2015) Ebuehi, O.A.T.; Motolani Amode; Ayooluwa Balogun; Adenike Fowora
    The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of post-mortem time (0, 24, 48 h) on the integrity of DNA vextracted from the brain, liver, heart and kidney of male albino Sprague –Dawley rats. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCR) followed by agarose electrophoresis were used to detect the correlation between DNA integrity and post mortem time. The results of the post-mortem DNA profile showed that DNA degradation was a time dependent process. DNA from brain, as compared to liver and kidney DNA, showed a slower degradation rate and therefore brain could serve as a valuable organ for studying degradation in longer post-mortem time. This study provides the first DNA profile analysis of the postmortem progress of DNA degradation in rats.
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    Open Access
    Pro‑inflammatory cytokine response and genetic diversity in merozoite surface protein 2 of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Nigeria
    (Advanced Biomedical Research, 2016) Ebuehi, O.A.T.; Ajibaye, O.; Osuntoki, A.A.; Iwalokun, B.A.; Balogun, E.O.; Egbuna, K.N.
    Background: Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein‑2 (msp‑2) and associated parasite genetic diversity which varies between malaria‑endemic regions remain a limitation in malaria vaccine development. Pro‑inflammatory cytokines are important in immunity against malaria, understanding the influence of genetic diversity on cytokine response is important for effective vaccine design. Materials and Methods: P. falciparum isolates obtained from 300 Nigerians with uncomplicated falciparum malaria at Ijede General Hospital, Ijede (IJE), General Hospital Ajeromi, Ajeromi (AJE) and Saint Kizito Mission Hospital, Lekki, were genotyped by nested polymerase chain reaction of msp‑2 block 3 while ELISA was used to determine the pro‑inflammatory cytokine response to describe the genetic diversity of P. falciparum. Results: Eighteen alleles were observed for msp‑2 loci. Of the 195 isolates, 61 (31.0%) had only FC27‑type alleles, 38 (19.7%) had only 3D7‑type alleles, and 49.3% had multiple parasite lines with both alleles. Band sizes were 275–625 bp for FC27 and 150–425 bp for 3D7. Four alleles were observed from LEK, 2 (375–425 bp) and 2 (275–325 bp) of FC27‑and 3D7‑types, respectively; 12 alleles from AJE, 9 (275–625 bp) and 3 (325–425 bp) of FC27‑types and 3D7‑types, respectively; while IJE had a total of 12 alleles, 9 (275–625 bp) and 3 (325–425 bp) of FC27‑types and 3D7‑types, respectively. Mean multiplicity of infection (MOI) was 1.54. Heterozygosity (HE ) ranged from 0.77 to 0.87 and was highest for IJE (0.87). Cytokine response was higher among <5 years and was significantly associated with MOI (P > 0.05) but with neither parasite density nor infection type. Conclusion: P. falciparum genetic diversity is extensive in Nigeria, protection via pro‑inflammatory cytokines have little or no interplay with infection multiplicity.
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    Open Access
    Hyperglycemic Effect on Brain Cholinergic Functions, Oxidative Stress and Protein Expression of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (Bdnf) on Cognitive Functions in Streptozotocin Induced-Diabetic Rats
    (Research in Neuroscience, 2015) Ebuehi, O.A.T.; Dibie, D.C.
    Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most severe metabolic disorders in humans characterized by hyperglycemia due to a relative or an absolute lack of insulin or the action of insulin on its target tissue or both. Many neurodegenerative disorders, such as deficits in learning memory and cognition, are associated with diabetes mellitus. Objective: The objective of the present study was to decipher the effect of hyperglycemia on cholinergic functions, oxidative stress and protein expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in streptozotocin induced- diabetic rats. Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were used for the study. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (130-150g) each were divided into 2equal groups with six rats in each group (diabetic and control). The rats were sacrificed and biochemical parameters, such as blood glucose, C-peptide, total protein, acetyl choline levels, acetyl cholinesterase activity and antioxidant status were determined. The BDNF protein expression and learning, memory and cognitive functions in rats were also determined. Results: The results obtained showed that diabetic rats exhibited decreased acetylcholine level and also an alteration (down regulation) of the expressed BDNF of STZ-induced diabetic rats compared with the control. The diabetic rats also exhibited significantly decreased plasma C-peptide and total protein levels, as well as increased oxidative stress. Conclusions: Data of the study indicate that the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats had increased oxidative stress, decreased acetylcholine levels and down regulation of BDNF protein expression, thereby impairing memory, learning, and cognitive functions.
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    Open Access
    Toxicological Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Cannabis sativa on Brain Serotonin in Adult Wistar Rats
    (American Journal of Biochemistry, 2016) Ebuehi, O.A.T.; Adetona, M.O.; Solanke, A.S.
    Studies have identified that Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) has been used recreationally and medicinally, this has resulted in an increase in the consumption of Cannabis sativa among young people. The aim of this study is to produce data on toxicological effect of ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa on serotonin concentration and tissue histopathology in the brain of adult wistar rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups with each group consisting of 8 rats. Treated groups received ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa 25mg/kg body weight and 10% ethanol. The treatments were administered orally within two weeks for short duration and five weeks for long duration. The brain tissues were used for histological assay; the brain serotonin level was determined. Results showed a significant alteration in the level of brain serotonin at two and five weeks administration compared to the control group. Histopathological alterations were also observed.