Examinando por Autor "LOPEZ-PEREZ, Ana Esther"

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Effects of chronic dietary exposure to monosodium glutamate on feeding behavior, adiposity, gastrointestinal motility, and cardiovascular function in healthy adult rats
(Wiley Online Library, 2015-08-24) López Miranda, Visitación; Soto Montenegro, M Luisa; Uranga, Jose Antonio; Vera, Gema; Herradón, Esperanza; González, Cristina; Blas, C; MARTINEZ-VILLALUENGA, M; LOPEZ-PEREZ, Ana Esther; Desco, Manuel; Abalo, Raquel
Background Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor- enhancer widely used as a food additive. However, its safe dietary concentration and its toxicity, including its possible implication in the recent metabolic syndrome pandemia, is still a controversial issue. Therefore, a deep knowledge of its effects upon regular dietary use is needed. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to MSG on feeding behavior, abdominal fat, gastrointestinal motility, and cardiovascular function in rats. Methods Two groups of adult male Wistar rats were used: control and treated with MSG (4 g/L in drinking water) for 6 weeks. Different functional parameters were determined and the histological structure was analyzed in tissues of interest. Key Results Compared to control animals, chronic MSG increased water intake but did not modify food ingestion or body weight gain. Neither the abdominal fat volume nor the fat fraction, measured by magnetic resonance imaging, was modified by MSG. Monosodium glutamate did not alter general gastrointestinal motility, but significantly increased the colonic response to mechanical stimulation. It slightly reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta, without significantly modifying any other cardiovascular parameters. No significant histological alterations were detected in salivary glands, intestinal wall, aorta, heart, and kidney. Conclusions & Inferences Chronic treatment with MSG in the adult rat increased water intake. This supports its potential to improve acceptance of low-fat regimens and to increase hydration in the elderly and sportspeople, often at risk of dehydration. Changes in colonic contractility and cardiovascular function could have some long-term repercussions warranting further research.
May cannabinoids prevent the development of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea and intestinal mucositis? Experimental study in the rat.
(2017) Abalo, Raquel; Uranga, Jose Antonio; Pérez-García I; de Andrés, Raquel; Girón, Rocío; Vera, Gema; LOPEZ-PEREZ, Ana Esther; Martín-Fontelles, Isabel
Background: The antineoplastic drug 5-fluoruracil (5-FU) is a pirimidine analog, which frequently induces potentially fatal diarrhea and mucositis. Cannabinoids reduce gastrointestinal motility and secretion and might prevent 5-FU-induced gut adverse effects. Here we asked whether cannabinoids may prevent diarrhea and mucositis induced by 5-FU in the rat. Methods: Male Wistar rats received vehicle or the non-selective cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN; 0.5 mg kg-1 injection-1, 1 injection day-1, 4 consecutive days) by intraperitoneal (ip) route; on the first 2 days, animals received also saline or 5-FU (150 mg kg-1 injection-1, cumulative dose of 300 mg kg-1). Gastrointestinal motor function was radiographically studied after barium contrast intragastric administration on experimental days 1 and 4. Structural alterations of the stomach, small intestine and colon were histologically studied on day 4. PAS staining and immunohistochemistry for Ki67, chromogranin A and CD163 were used to detect secretory, proliferating and endocrine cells, and activated macrophages, respectively. Key results: As shown radiographically, 5-FU induced significant gastric emptying delay (on days 1 and 4) as well as diarrhea (on day 4). WIN did not significantly alter the motility curves obtained for either control or 5-FU-treated animals but tended to reduce the severity of 5-FU-induced diarrhea and increased permanence of barium from day 1 to the beginning of day 4 in 5-FU-treated animals. 5-FU-induced mucositis was severe and not counteracted by WIN. Conclusions and Inferences: 5-FU-induced diarrhea, but not mucositis, was partly prevented by WIN at a low dose. Cannabinoids might be useful to prevent chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.