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Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of modifying the Mediterranean diet, to improve motor and cognitive disabilities in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, in addition to their usual pharmacological therapy. Background: Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting roughly 1% of individuals over age 60 in North America and Europe. Previous studies have indicated that environmental factors play a major role in the onset and evolution of PD. The largest prospective study of dietary patterns identified a Mediterranean-like diet (MeDi) as protective (Gao et al, 2007). Methods: Fifty Patients with idiopathic PD were studied. Twenty-five patients (mean age 71.5±8.4 years) received a dissociated low-calorie and low-protein diet, devoid of tyramine and phenylalanine, containing foods with high ellagic acid levels and curcuma as a spice, named modified Mediterranean diet (moMeDi), (A group); a parallel group of twenty-five PD patients (mean age 69.1±9.8 years) received a simple Mediterranean diet (MeDi) [low-calorie diet] (B group). Both groups were followed for 6 months with weekly checks. An analysis of nutritional parameters was carried out mainly by investigating height/body weight ratios, and the % of weekly changes in weight, index weighting, body circumferences and skinfold thickness. Moreover total body water, extracellular/intracellular water, lean body mass, fat mass, weight ratio, slim/fat metabolically active mass, and basal metabolic rate (calories), were analyzed, using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups concerning gender, age, disease duration, Hoehn & Yahr score, cognitive performance, mood disorders, levodopa dose, or levodopa equivalent daily dose (Fig. 1).At 6 months, nutritional parameters and neurological status had significantly improved in A group A (P = 0.0199) compared with B group (Fig. 2A, 2B). Conclusions: Our findings support evidence on the protective effects of supplemented Mediterranean diet (moMeDi) in PD, as the evaluations performed reflect a better global results in A group compared with B group who received a simple Medi. So, moMeDi is a good candidate for non-drug therapy in addition to dopaminergic therapy.

In Rana esculenta the presence of an androgen receptor in both the male and female Harderian gland (HG) has been demonstrated. Hybridization analysis has evidenced a high degree of homology between the rat androgen receptor cDNA and the frog androgen receptor mRNA (fARmRNA). Correspondingly the molecular size of fARmRNA is similar to those described in mammals (9.4 kb). In in vivo experiments testosterone (T) increases the levels of fARmRNA. The use of the antiandrogen alone or in combination with T prevents the increase of fARmRNA. In the control animals a loss of fARmRNA has been observed. In primary cultures of HG cells, the steady-state levels of fARmRNA increase in the cells exposed to T. These results suggest that T exerts an autoinduction on its own receptor, increasing the levels of fARmRNA. In Xenopus laevis the HG shows a sexual dimorphism of the protein pattern. The female shows two major proteins (210 and 180 kDa). Administration of estradiol to the male shifts the protein pattern into the female one. In this respect an estrogen receptor mRNA (ERmRNA) has been found in the female gland and can be induced in the male one. No ARmRNA has been detected in either sexes. A similar sex dimorphism has been found in Gallus domesticus. The female pattern is characterised by a protein fraction of about 210 kDa, the male one by a protein fraction of about 180 kDa. In 4-day-old chicks no sex differences have been found. An ERmRNA is expressed in the female, while no ARmRNA has been detected in both sexes. Neither AR nor ER mRNAs have been detected in the chick HG. Among mammals the HG or the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) shows an androgen-dependent sex dimorphism. In in vitro experiments T 10(-12) M induces a onefold increase of ARm-RNA with respect to unexposed cells. This effect reaches its maximum (4.4-fold) when cells are exposed to T 10(-8) M. The size of the hamster ARmRNA is similar to that observed in other mammals (9.5 kb). The above results suggest that in the HG the phenomenon of autoinduction occurs and that there is a relationship between the androgen or estrogen dependence of the HG and the digamety of the species.

The Harderian gland (hg) is a gland which occupies a large portion of the orbital cavity. In many species, a sexual dimorphism occurs, which suggests a gonadal steroid control of the hg. The present study examines, in primary cultures of hamster hg cells, the regulation of the androgen receptor mRNA (AR mRNA) expression. In dose–response experiments measuring the expression of AR mRNA, testosterone (T) (10 −12 M ) induced a 1-fold increase of AR mRNA compared with unexposed cells, and this effect reached its zenith (6.2-fold) when cells were exposed to 10 −8 M T. In other experiments, cells were exposed or not to different drugs [T, T + flutamide (F), F, T + cycloheximide (Cy), Cy] for different times (up to 96 hr). These experiments showed a time-dependent increase of AR mRNA in the cells exposed to T, while in the cells exposed to F, T+F, T+Cy, Cy, and control (unexposed), a time-dependent decrease of AR mRNA was observed. The size of the hamster AR mRNA in these in vitro experiments was similar to that observed in other mammals (9.5 kb). It is concluded that primary cultures of hamster hg cells are a valuable model for studying hg cell activity and that in this system T autoinduces its own receptor.

Vitamin A and its principal biologically active derivative, retinoic acid (RA), play a fundamental role in diverse processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, metabolism and apoptosis of many types of cells. In addition, RA has been shown to be involved in the regulation of testicular function. These effects are mediated by interaction with two families of nuclear receptors, retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR), each with three subtypes alpha, beta and gamma. The physiological involvement of retinoids in testicular function has been conducted mainly in mammals. Recently, we found that exogenous all-trans-retinoic acid impairs spermatogenesis and enhance testicular germ cell apoptosis in the lizard, Podarcis sicula, a seasonal breeder. To further investigate the role of retinoic acid in lizard, we focus this work principally on the characterization of lizard retinoic acid receptors alpha, beta and gamma isoforms). RAR* is 2720 bp long with a putative ORF between 699 and 2133. A Kozac sequence is present at 696 and a putative poly-adenilation site is present in position 2612. The RAR* sequence shares 87% homology with mouse RAR* mRNA while it has 76 and 80% homology with lizard RAR* and * mRNAs. RAR* is 2478 bp long showing a putative ORF between 196 and 1543. A canonical Kozac sequence is present at 193 and a putative poly-adenilation site is present at 2294. RAR* shares 91% homology with mouse RAR* mRNA and has 76% homology with both RAR* and *. RAR* is 2416 bp long. With a putative ORF between 444 and 1818. A Kozac sequence is present at 441 and a putative poly-adenilation site is present at 2288. RAR* shares 86% homology with mouse RAR* mRNA and has 80 and 76% homology with both RAR* and * respectively. It is worth to note that, as in mouse, the 5*UTR of all isoforms is TATA and CAAT less. Both Northern blot and PCR analyses indicate that lizard testis expresses only RAR* and RAR* mRNAs, while RAR* mRNA transcript was not found. In the period analysed, RAR* was expressed during the gonadal full activity (May) and RAR* was present in the post-reproductive period (August). During the autumnal recrudescence (October) RAR* and RAR* are co-expressed and, as indicated by quantitative PCR analysis, RAR* mRNA levels are lower than RAR* ones. Thus, the appearance and abundance of each receptor correspond to a specific phase of lizard reproductive cycle, allow us to hypothesize that each RAR subtype could play a specific role in the regulation of spermatogenetic activity. The results of the present study show, for the first time, the characterization of RAR mRNAs in the testis of lizard P. sicula, whose expression is related to the different phase of reproductive cycle. Moreover, the * form, is principally expressed in the skin during the March–July period, having probably a role in regulating skin homeostasis and colour livery, which are important factor in mating during the reproductive cycle.

In mammals retinoic acid is involved in the regulation of testicular function by interaction with two families of nuclear receptors, retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR), each with three isoforms , , and . In this paper we focused our attention on lizard Podarcis sicula in order to evaluate the effect of exogenous all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) on spermatogenesis of a non-mammalian seasonal reproducer. atRA or atRA plus testosterone (atRA+T) were injected intraperitoneally every day for a time of 15 days, and the effects on spermatogenetic cells were compared with controls (saline or testosterone injected). In atRA-treated lizards seminiferous tubules were markedly reduced in cross-area due to collapse of seminiferous epithelium, which showed a variety of cellular damage ranging from sensible reduction in the number of germ cells to disruption in normal epithelial organization. In atRA+T-treated lizards the loss of germinal cells achieved was significantly less than that after atRA treatment. The loss of germ cells observed in both experimental groups results from an induction of apoptotic process, as revealed by TUNEL analysis. Although in low numbers, apoptotic germ cells were also observed in the control groups (saline- and T-treated lizard), where the main germ cells undergoing apoptosis are primary spermatocytes (most frequent) and some spermatogonia. Furthermore, using Northern blot cDNA hybridization we verified that lizard testicular cells express only RAR(3.7 kb) and RAR (3.4 kb) mRNAs, among RAR isoforms. In conclusion, the results presented here show that in lizard retinoic acid has deleterious effect on spermatogenesis determining a severe depletion of seminiferous epithelium, probably via induction of apoptotic processes. These effects are not completely inhibited by simultaneous administration of testosterone, although this hormone once injected is able to stimulate spermatogenesis and protect germinal cells from apoptotic cell death.