Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2017, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 
 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. IV, No. 1s   ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Nrf2, Oxidative stress, Reporter 

mice, Omega-3 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Elena Mariani 

elena.mariani1@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Abstract 

Cells developed several mechanisms, including the transcription factor Nuclear Factor E2-related 

factor 2 (Nrf2) to counteract oxidative stress (Lee and Johnson, 2004). The aim of the study was to 

evaluate the activation of Nrf2 in transgenic mice fed saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids and the 

anti-inflammatory effect of oestrogens on organism. Forty-eight ARE CRE OMO reporter mice were 

divided into 3 groups, consisting of 16 animals, based on presence/absence of oestrogens 

(ovariectomized or sham female, OVX - SH; male, MA). Each group was further split in 4 subgroups of 

4 animals each and fed different diets (7.5% lard, 7.5% tuna oil, 20.0 % lard and 20.0% tuna oil). Two 

times a week animals were anaesthetized and injected intraperitoneally with 100µL luciferin 15 min 

before the imaging session. Using the Living Image Software, photon emission was mapped for 

selected body areas. On day 70, animals were sacrificed after a challenge with Sodium Arsenite. 

Specific organs were dissected and immediately subjected to ex vivo imaging session. MIXED and GLM 

procedures of SAS software were used for statistical analysis. Dietary treatments did not affect body 

weight and feed intake as well as Nrf2 expression in both pre- and post-challenge phases, with the 

exception of the abdominal region (P=0.031 pre-challenge); in this area, during the pre-challenge 

phase, OVX showed lower Nrf2 activation (P<0.001). Ex vivo results outlined a significant effect of the 

challenge on all the considered organs (P<0.001), while OVX subjects had higher Nrf2 expression on 

urinary bladder and kidney (P<0.05) and high fat diet increased Nrf2 in urinary bladder (P<0.05). The 

present trial shows how supplementation of saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet do 

not exert significant effects on oxidative stress in mice, but confirms the protective role of oestrogens 

under physiological condition. 

 

References 

Lee, J.M., and Johnson, J.A., 2004. An important role of Nrf2-ARE pathway in the cellular defence mechanism. Journal of Biochemistry and 
Molecular Biology. 37, 139-143. 

 

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2’s  

activation in transgenic mice fed with  

dosage of saturated or unsaturated  

fatty acids using in vivo  

bioluminescent imaging 

Elena Mariani1*, Nicoletta Rizzi2, Guido Invernizzi1,  

Alessandro Agazzi1, Adriana Maggi2, Giovanni Savoini1 

 

1 University of Milan, Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Italy.  

2University of Milan, Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of 
Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Italy. 

 

 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en