5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
(HMF) was effectively produced from monosaccharides
in a microreactor. A biphasic reaction system was employed to achieve
the immediate extraction of produced HMF and suppress the overreaction.
A microreactor was utilized to ensure that the reaction occurred under
segmented flow to enhance the extraction efficiency. Through many
attempts using phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as the reaction phase
and 2-sec-butyl phenol (2BP) as the extraction phase,
the favorable conditions were determined. By using PBS with pH of
2.0 and 2BP at a volume ratio of 3 to PBS, 80.9 mol % of fructose
and 75.7 mol % of glucose were converted into HMF, respectively, at
180 °C. By comparing the results obtained through monophasic
reactions, it was confirmed that the biphasic system successfully
suppressed both the overreaction and the byproducts. The system employed
only a simple experimental apparatus and the acid solution and organic
solvent reagents without any complex expensive catalyst.
Background
Although animal models of PCOS have been used in many studies, none of them can reproduce both the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS. In addition, behavioral parameters have not been evaluated in PCOS animal models.
Purpose
We tried to produce an improved rat model of PCOS, and the reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral phenotypes of the model rats were evaluated.
Methods
Female rats were implanted with silicon tubes containing oil‐dissolved dihydrotestosterone (Oil‐DHT) as a new PCOS model. Their phenotypes were compared with those of conventional PCOS model rats (DHT), into which tubes containing crystalline DHT were implanted, and non‐DHT‐treated rats (control).
Results
Both the Oil‐DHT and DHT rats showed greater body weight gain, food intake, and fat depot weight than the control rats. Furthermore, these groups showed fewer estrous stages and increased numbers of cystic follicles. The DHT rats exhibited lower ovarian and uterine weights than the control rats, whereas no such changes were observed in the Oil‐DHT rats. The Oil‐DHT and DHT rats showed less locomotor activity in the light phase than the control rats.
Conclusions
Our proposed PCOS model reproduced both the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS and may have potential for PCOS research.
Purpose
We studied the influence of psychological stress during the early neonatal period on sexual maturation and sexual behavior in rats.
Methods
Neonatal male and female rats were divided into control (C) and maternal separation (MS) groups (n = 20‐24 per group). The pups in the MS groups were placed in isolation cages for 240 minutes/d from postnatal days 2‐11. Vaginal opening (VO) in females and preputial separation (PS) in males (indicators of sexual maturation) were monitored, as was the estrous cycle in females. Thereafter, sexual behavior was monitored twice at 13 and 15 weeks of age.
Results
As for sexual maturation, the onset of PS occurred significantly earlier in the MS group than in the C group, whereas the onset of VO did not differ between the groups. The length of the estrous cycle did not differ between the groups. The frequencies of sexual behaviors did not differ between the groups in either sex.
Conclusions
In conclusion, early‐life psychological stress induced by MS advanced sexual maturation in male rats, whereas it did not affect sexual maturation in female rats. On the other hand, early‐life psychological stress might not affect sexual behavior in adulthood in either sex.
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