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Farnesoid X receptor and bile salts are involved in transcriptional regulation of the gene encoding the human bile salt export pump.

The bile salt export pump (BSEP or ABCB11) mediates the adenosine triphosphate-dependent transport of bile salts across the canalicular membrane of the hepatocyte. Mutations in the corresponding ABCB11 gene cause progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2. The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of human ABCB11 gene transcription by bile salts. First, a 1.7-kilobase human ABCB11 promoter region was cloned. Sequence analysis for possible regulatory elements showed a farnesoid X receptor responsive element (FXRE) at position minus sign180. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) functions as a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) and can be activated by the bile salt chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Luciferase reporter gene assays showed that the ABCB11 promoter is positively controlled by FXR, RXRalpha, and bile salts in a concentration-dependent manner. Mutation of the FXRE strongly represses the FXR-dependent induction. Second, endogenous ABCB11 transcription regulation was studied in HepG2 cells, stably expressing the rat sodium-dependent taurocholate transporter (rNtcp) cells. ABCB11 expression was induced by adding bile salts to the culture medium, and this effect was maximized by combining it with cotransfection of rFxr and hRXRalpha. Reducing endogenous FXR levels using RNA interference fully repressed the bile salt-induced ABCB11 expression. In conclusion, these results show that FXR is required for the bile salt-dependent transcriptional control of the human ABCB11 gene and that the cellular amount of FXR is critical for the level of activation of ABCB11 transcription.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Effect of cross flow velocity, feed concentration, and pressure on the salt rejection of nanofiltration membranes in reactive dye having two sodium salts and NaCl mixtures: model application.

In this study, effects of cross flow velocity, feed concentration, and pressure on the permeate flux and salt rejection were investigated by nanofiltration membranes. DS5 DK type nanofiltration membrane was tested and reactive orange 16 (RO16), reactive blue 19 (RB19) and NaCl were used in the experiments to prepare the synthetic reactive dye and salt mixtures. The study indicated that operating conditions are very important for both permeate fluxes and salt rejections during nanofiltration of dye and salt mixtures. Fluxes and salt rejections increased with increasing cross flow velocity. In addition, feed solutions in different reactive dye and salt concentrations, which affected the ionic strength and agglomeration of dye solutions, decreased the permeate flux values. In addition, author's previous model (Koyuncu, I.; Topacik. D. Effect of organic ion on the separation of salts by nanofiltration membranes. Journal of Membrane Science 2002, 195, 247-263.), which has been derived assuming the salt and dye concentrations on membrane surface, was applied to experimental results.

Anthraquinones↗

Proline induces the expression of salt-stress-responsive proteins and may improve the adaptation of Pancratium maritimum L. to salt-stress.

Proline is an important component of salt-stress responses of plants. In this study the role of proline as part of salt-stress signalling in the desert plant Pancratium maritimum L. was examined. The data showed that salt-stress brought about a reduction of the growth and protein content, particularly at 300 mM NaCl, that was significantly increased by exogenous proline. In the leaves, salt-stress up-regulated ubiquitin, a small protein targeting damaged proteins for degradation via the proteasome, up to 5-fold as detected by western blotting. This change was also affected by proline even in non-stressed leaves. However, salt-stress resulted in a decrease in the amount of ubiquitin-conjugates, particularly in the roots, and this effect was reversed by exogenous proline. Severe salt-stress resulted in an inhibition of the antioxidative enzymes catalase and peroxidase as revealed by spectrophotometric assays and activity gels, but the activity of these enzymes was also maintained significantly higher in the presence of proline. Salt-stress also up-regulated several dehydrin proteins, analysed by western blotting, even in non-stressed plants. It is concluded that proline improves the salt-tolerance of Pancratium maritimum L. by protecting the protein turnover machinery against stress-damage and up-regulating stress protective proteins.

Antioxidants↗

Expressions of OsHKT1, OsHKT2, and OsVHA are differentially regulated under NaCl stress in salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars.

Under NaCl-dominated salt stress, the key to plant survival is maintaining a low cytosolic Na(+) level or Na(+)/K(+) ratio. The OsHKT1, OsHKT2, and OsVHA transporter genes might play important roles in maintaining cytosolic Na(+) homeostasis in rice (Oryza sativa L. indica cvs Pokkali and BRRI Dhan29). Upon NaCl stress, the OsHKT1 transcript was significantly down-regulated in salt-tolerant cv. Pokkali, but not in salt-sensitive cv. BRRI Dhan29. NaCl stress induced the expression of OsHKT2 and OsVHA in both Pokkali and BRRI Dhan29. In cv. Pokkali, OsHKT2 and OsVHA transcripts were induced immediately after NaCl stress. However, in cv. BRRI Dhan29, the induction of OsHKT2 was quite low and of OsVHA was low and delayed, compared with that in cv. Pokkali. OsHKT2 and OsVHA induction mostly occurred in the phloem, in the transition from phloem to mesophyll cells, and in the mesophyll cells of the leaves. The vacuolar area in cv. Pokkali did not change under either short- (5-10 min) or long-term (24 h) salt stress, although it significantly increased 24 h after the stress in cv. BRRI Dhan29. When expressional constructs of VHA-c and VHA-a with YFP and CFP were introduced into isolated protoplasts of cvs Pokkali and BRRI Dhan29, the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency between VHA-c and VHA-a upon salt stress decreased slightly in cv. Pokkali, but increased significantly in cv. BRRI Dhan29. The results suggest that the salt-tolerant cv. Pokkali regulates the expression of OsHKT1, OsHKT2, and OsVHA differently from how the salt-sensitive cv. BRRI Dhan29 does. Together, these proteins might confer salt tolerance in Pokkali by maintaining a low cytosolic Na(+) level and a correct ratio of cytosolic Na(+)/K(+).

Cation Transport Proteins↗

Norepinephrine overflow and re-uptake in perfused mesenteric arteries of Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats.

We compared the overflow of endogenous norepinephrine (NE) upon electrical stimulation, the associated pressor response and rate of initial neuronal uptake of 3H-I-NE in the perfused mesenteric arteries of Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) rats on two dietary NaCl regimens (0.4 and 8.0% for 2 weeks) from 4 weeks of age. The tissues of two rats, a DS and a DR control, were simultaneously processed and subjected to the same electrical stimulation. The pressor response and overflow of endogenous NE during periarterial nerve stimulation (5, 10 Hz, 1 min) in the tissue of DS rats on a high-salt diet (HS) were significantly greater, while those of DS on a low-salt diet (LS) were moderately but significantly higher than those of DR rats on either a high (HR) or a low-salt diet (LR). The tissue content of NE in DS rats was significantly lower than DR groups. There was a significantly reduced 3H-I-NE uptake in the tissues of DS rats on both salt diet groups compared with DR rats. A submaximal dose of exogenous NE evoked a significantly greater pressor response amplitude in mesenteric tissues from DS rats on a high-salt diet than in any of the other three groups, suggesting that smooth muscle supersensitivity, either in the density of the NE receptor or in the excitation-contraction coupling system, had been induced in the vasculature of DS rats by feeding them on a high-salt diet for 2 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Salt responses of carboxylation enzymes from species differing in salt tolerance.

This paper reports effects of salts on in vitro activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase, isolated from species differing in salt tolerance.Inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase by the inorganic salts KCl, NaCl, and Na(4)SO(4) depended on the source of the enzyme. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase isolated from leaves of C(4) plants was extremely sensitive to inorganic salts, whereas the enzyme extracted from roots of C(4) plants or from both shoots and roots of C(3) plants was much less sensitive. Ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase was less salt-sensitive than the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases. Differences in salt sensitivity of carboxylases were observed over a wide pH range. The results suggest substantial physical-chemical differences between phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases functioning in photosynthesis and in CO(2) dark fixation.Among C(4) species, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from halophytic species was more salt-sensitive than that from a salt-sensitive species. This anomaly, between in vitro response of enzymes and growth response of the plants, is briefly discussed.

Journal Article↗

Genotypic Responses to Salinity: Differences between Salt-sensitive and Salt-tolerant Genotypes of the Tomato.

Four ecotypes of the species Lycopersicon cheesmanii ssp. minor (Hook.) C.H. Mull. from the Galapagos Islands were compared with L. esculentum Mill cv. VF 36 with respect to salt tolerance. The L. cheesmanii ecotype that proved most salt-tolerant was selected for detailed comparison with the L. esculentum cultivar. Plants were grown in modified Hoagland solution salinized with synthetic seawater salt mix. Growth rates under saline conditions were examined and amino acid, sugar, total amino nitrogen, free acidity, and Na and K levels in the tissues of the most and least tolerant plants were measured under salt stress and nonstress conditions. Results indicate that all Galapagos ecotypes were far more salt-tolerant than was the esculentum cultivar. They could survive in full strength seawater nutrient solution while the esculentum cultivar could not in most cases withstand levels higher than 50% seawater. Growth rates were reduced in both species under saline conditions but the esculentum cultivar was more severely affected. High levels of total amino nitrogen, specific amino acids, and free acidity along with low sodium content were found in the salt stressed VF 36 cultivar. The opposite responses were noted in the salt stressed treatments of the Galapagos ecotype. Tissue sugar levels did not appear to be similarly correlated with salt stress in either species. Potassium content fell sharply during salinization in the Galapagos ecotype while in the esculentum cultivar it declined relatively little even at high levels of salinity.

Journal Article↗

Blood pressure, salt taste and sodium excretion in rats exposed prenatally to high salt diet.

Blood pressure, sodium excretion and salt taste were examined in Sprague Dawley (SD) and Munich Wistar (MW) rats exposed prenatally to either a high salt (2.3% NaCl w/w) or control diet. There was no significant difference in blood pressure at 2, 6 or 12 months between high salt and control groups in either strain. Similarly there was no significant difference in sodium excretion following a saline load by gavage (150 mmol/l, 1.5% BW). Munich Wistar rats which received high salt diet prenatally exhibited a reduced saline preference when offered a choice between water and 150 mmol/l NaCl as drinking fluid. There was no significant difference in saline preference between Sprague Dawley rats which received the high salt or control diet. Prenatal exposure to high salt diet failed to alter the blood pressure or excretion of a salt load in either SD or MW rats. In MW rats but not SD high salt diet prenatally resulted in a reduced saline preference at 3 months of age.

Animals↗

Effect of salt and water intake on epithelial sodium channel mRNA abundance in the kidney of salt-sensitive Sabra rats.

1. The level of mRNA expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits was studied in a salt-dependent hypertensive rat strain (Sabra). These rats exhibit high vasopressin levels compared with their normotensive counterparts. We also investigated whether this expression is influenced by changes in the sodium intake/aldosterone axis or in the fluid intake/vasopressin axis. 2. A higher expression of beta- and gamma-subunit mRNA was found in salt-sensitive compared with salt-resistant rats on a normal salt diet. A high-sodium diet did not alter mRNA abundance in either substrain. In contrast, water supplementation in salt-sensitive rats fed the high-sodium diet induced a marked reduction in mRNA abundance of beta- and gamma-subunits. 3. The present study provides evidence that beta- and gamma-subunits of ENaC are differently expressed in the kidney of salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Sabra rats and that their abundance is regulated by vasopressin, not by sodium intake. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased vasopressin-dependent ENaC expression and activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension in salt-sensitive Sabra rats.

Aldosterone↗

Histochemical enzyme activity correlated to the structural segmentation of the proximal convoluted tubule in salt-depleted and salt-loaded rat kidneys.

In salt-depleted and salt-loaded rat kidneys a study was made of the structural segmentation of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) and the histochemical activity of non-specific acid and alkaline phosphatases and succinate dehydrogenase in the same segments. No quantitative structural or segmental alterations were observed, but significant changes in enzyme activity occured. These comprised: 1) A decrease in activity of acid phosphatase in segment 1 and the transitional zone in salt-depleted kidneys, and an increase in enzyme activity in segment 2 in salt-loaded kidneys. 2) a decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in segment 2 in both salt-depleted and salt-loaded kidneys and 3) a decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity in segment 2 in salt-depleted kidneys, and an increase in activity in the same segment in salt-loaded kidneys. Thus long-term variation in sodium intake are followed by segment-correlated variations in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and succinate dehydrogenase in the PCT.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Hemodynamics and renal responses.

This study was performed with Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats to detect differences in cardiovascular hemodynamics and renal responses that might be involved in initiating salt-induced hypertension in DS rats. The effects of 4 weeks of 8% NaCl diet were studied in conscious, male DR and DS rats in which vascular and urinary catheters had been previously implanted. Results were compared with those obtained from control groups of DR and DS rats on 4 weeks of 1% NaCl diet. DR rats on 8% salt diet did not develop hypertension, and cardiac output and blood volume were unchanged; glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow, sodium excretion, and plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) increased. DS rats on 8% salt diet developed hypertension, and cardiac output and blood volume increased; glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow, and sodium excretion did not change, despite an increase in ANF. DS and DR rats on 1% NaCl diet were subjected to ANF infusion. After ANF infusion DR rats had a decreased blood volume and an increased glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow, and sodium excretion; DS rats showed no significant changes in blood volume, glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow, or sodium excretion. ANF caused vasodilation in all regions studied in DR rats; DS rats showed vasodilation in all regions except the kidney. After acute volume expansion, although both DR and DS rats responded by an increase in cardiac output, only DS rats developed prolonged hypertension. This finding suggests an inadequate vasodilatory mechanism in DS rats. In response to acute volume expansion, renal resistance decreased in DR rats but not in DS rats. It is concluded that the primary hemodynamic disturbance in DS rats with salt-induced hypertension is an increase in cardiac output caused by blood volume expansion in the absence of any vasodilation. Comparison of the responses of DS and DR rats to high salt diets, ANF infusion, and acute volume expansion indicates that the salt-induced hypertension in DS rats is initiated by a diminished renal response to ANF.

Animals↗

Pressure natriuresis in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Sabra rats.

Salt-resistant (SBN/y) and salt-sensitive (SBH/y) Sabra rats are a useful model of salt-sensitive hypertension with incompletely explored renal mechanisms. We investigated their pressure-natriuresis curves, with and without deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment. To differentiate between extrinsic neural and hormonal mechanisms and intrinsic renal influences, we performed experiments with neural denervation, adrenalectomy, and infusions of vasopressin, norepinephrine, 17-hydroxycorticosterone, and aldosterone as well as without these maneuvers. In untreated SBN/y without controlled neural and circulating hormonal factors, urine flow and sodium excretion increased from 32 to 95 microL/min per gram kidney weight (gkwt) and from 4 to 17 mumol/min per gkwt, respectively, as renal perfusion pressure was increased from 85 to 146 mm Hg. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were autoregulated and averaged 7.5 and 1.2 mL/min per gkwt. In untreated SBN/y with controlled neural and circulating factors, pressure-diuresis and -natriuresis curves were shifted toward the right, and renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate ranged between 4.2 and 9.1 or 1 and 1.3 mL/min per gkwt as perfusion pressure was increased from 99 to 164 mm Hg. In both protocols, values in SBH/y did not differ. DOCA-salt increased blood pressure in SBH/y. In SBH/y without controlled neural and hormonal factors, pressure-diuresis and -natriuresis curves were shifted approximately 20 mm Hg toward the right. Fractional sodium and water excretion curves, renal blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate were shifted rightward in parallel. On the other hand, SBH/y with DOCA-salt and controlled neural and hormonal factors had lower sodium and water excretion rates only at the renal perfusion pressure of 150 mm Hg as well as decreased renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate compared with DOCA-salt SBN/y. These data suggest that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors are responsible for reduced sodium and water excretory capacity in DOCA-salt SBH/y; however, the extrinsic factors may be more important.

Adrenalectomy↗

Risk of high blood pressure in salt workers working near salt milling plants: a cross-sectional and interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Workers working close to salt milling plants may inhale salt particles floating in the air, leading to a rise in plasma sodium, which, in turn, may increase the blood pressure and the risk of hypertension. METHODS: To test the above hypothesis, occupational health check-up camps were organized near salt manufacturing units and all workers were invited for a free health examination. The workers who worked with dry salt in the vicinity of salt milling plants were defined as "non-brine workers," while those working in brine pans located far away from milling plants were defined as "brine workers." Blood pressure (BP) was measured during each clinical examination. In all, 474 non-brine workers and 284 brine workers were studied. RESULTS: Mean systolic blood pressure of non-brine workers (122.1 +/- 13.3 mm Hg) was significantly higher than that of brine workers (118.8 +/- 12.8 mm Hg, p < 0.01). Mean diastolic blood pressure of non-brine workers (71.5 +/- 10.4 mm Hg) was significantly higher than that of brine workers (69.7 +/- 9.4 mm Hg, p = 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in non-brine workers (12.2%) than in brine workers (7.0%, p = 0.02). Nineteen salt workers were monitored while they used face masks and spectacles, for six days. Systolic, as well as diastolic, blood pressure of these workers began declining on the third day and continued to decline on the fourth day, but remained stationary up to the sixth day. The concentration of salt particles in the breathing zone of these workers was 376 mg/m3 air. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of salt particles in non-brine workers may be an occupational cause of increased blood pressure.

Adult↗

Stages of change for salt intake and urinary salt excretion: baseline results from the High-Risk and Population Strategy for Occupational Health Promotion (HIPOP-OHP) study.

We investigate the relationship of urinary salt excretion to the stage of change to decrease salt intake in the Japanese diet. The data reported here were obtained from a baseline survey of the High-Risk and Population Strategy for Occupational Health Promotion (HIPOP-OHP) study that was conducted as a non-randomized control trial at 12 worksites in Japan. A total of 6,816 subjects (5,410 male, 1,406 female) were used in 1999 and 2000 for the analysis. We used three categories of stage of change: precontemplation or contemplation (P/C), preparation (P), and action or maintenance (A/M). Urinary salt excretion was estimated from the sodium and creatinine concentrations in spot urine samples. Multivariate analysis indicated that urinary salt excretion among males was 0.3 g/day greater in the P/C stage than in the A/M stage (p < 0.05). For non-obese females, urinary salt excretion in the P/C stage was 0.6 g/day greater than in the A/M stage (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that diastolic blood pressure in males not taking antihypertensive agents was 1.3 mmHg lower in the P/C stage than in the A/M stage (p < 0.05). A similar but statistically insignificant tendency was observed among non-obese females. A significant association was demonstrated between stage of change for dietary salt intake and urinary salt excretion for both males and non-obese females. There may be a potential application of the stage of change model for reducing dietary salt intake in a health promotion program.

Adult↗

Renal endothelin-1 is linked to changes in urinary salt and volume in essential hypertension. Salt Sensitivity Group of the Italian Society of Hypertension.

METHODS: We investigated the influence of salt intake on urinary and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) in 55 patients who entered a two-week double-blind, randomised, crossover study comparing a 50 mMol/day salt intake and 150 mMol/day. Twenty-four-hour ET-1 excretion and plasma ET-1 were measured by RIA on pre-extracted samples. RESULTS: In the whole cohort (n=55), changes in urinary ET-1 were related to salt excretion (r=0.28, P=0.04) and urinary volume (r=0.47, P=0.0001). In a multivariable model, changes in PRA, plasma aldosterone, blood pressure and heart rate did not add any predictive power to salt excretion with regard to urinary ET-1 variations. The relationship between urinary volume and urinary ET-1 was stronger than that of urinary sodium with ET-1 excretion because sodium was excluded from the multivariable model when urinary volume was introduced. Changes in urinary ET-1 were unrelated to mean blood pressure changes (P=0.66). Changes in plasma ET-1 were unaffected by changes in salt intake (P=0.58) but were strongly related to those in PRA (r= -0.45, P=0.01) and plasma aldosterone (r= -0.53, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The renal excretion of ET-1 is influenced by changes in salt intake and appears largely independent of the blood pressure response to salt. Changes in urinary volume which accompany variations in salt excretion play an important role in this response. Since urinary ET-1 reflects its renal synthesis, our data support the notion that renal ET-1 plays a role in the regulation of sodium balance in patients with mild hypertension.

Adult↗

[Dynamics of respiration pathway in transgenic salt-tolerant wheat and its receptor under salt stress].

Using transgenic salt-tolerant wheat 89122 and its receptor Longchun 13 as test material, the dynamic changes of respiration pathway of wheat seedlings at different salt concentration were studied. The appearance of salt respiration was later in 89122 than in Longchun 13. The changes of Valt and rho Valt of both varieties had different patterns during salt stress process. Valt was suppressed by high salt levels, but could be induced by low salt levels in Longchun 13. The rho Valt and rho' Vcyt of two varieties were cooperatively regulated with each other to adapt to salt stress, and rho' Vcyt was the main electron transport pathway. The possible physiological roles of cyanide-resistant respiration were also discussed. It was suggested that the operation intensity of cyanide-resistant respiration could serve as a physiological index of plant salt-tolerance.

Oxygen Consumption↗

Effect of taurohyodeoxycholic acid, a hydrophilic bile salt, on bile salt and biliary lipid secretion in the rat.

Taurohyodeoxycholic acid is a natural 6 alpha-hydroxylated bile acid with an apparent hydrophilicity intermediate between those of tauroursodeoxycholic and taurocholic acids. We investigated in the rat the hepatobiliary metabolism, choleretic properties, and biliary maximum secretory rate (SRmax) of taurohyodeoxycholic in comparison with these two bile salts. Each compound was infused intravenously, at a rate increased in a stepwise manner from 100 to 300 nmol/min/100 g body wt, in bile salt-depleted bile fistula rats. The three bile salts appeared rapidly starting with the infusion and increased to represent more than 95% of the total bile salts. No apparent biliary metabolites were formed. All the bile salts caused a dose-dependent increase in bile flow and biliary lipid output. The absolute increase in bile flow was lower in rats infused with taurohyodeoxycholic acid, yet the volume of bile formed per nanomole of secreted bile salt was 13.8 nl for taurohyodeoxycholic, 6.4 nl for tauroursodeoxycholic acid, and 10.9 nl for taurocholic. The SRmax values were 1080, 3240, and 960 nmol/min/100 g, respectively. At all infusion rates, taurohyodeoxycholic acid caused a greater (P < 0.001) secretion of biliary lecithin compared to the other bile salts. There were no significant differences in the biliary secretion of cholesterol and proteins. Electron microscopy showed the recruitment of vesicles and lamellar bodies around and within bile canaliculi. In conclusion, taurohyodeoxycholic promotes a biliary lecithin secretion greater than expected from physicochemical predictions, representing a novel secretory property with potential pharmacological relevance.

Animals↗

Sol-Gel transition behavior of pure iota-carrageenan in both salt-free and added salt states.

This paper describes how strongly the gelation process of iota-carrageenan is affected by addition of metallic ions from the creep and creep recovery, dynamic viscoelasticity (DVE) and DSC measurements. Creep results at T = 25 degrees C indicate that below a polymer concentration C of 3.0 wt % the salt-free system behaves as a viscous solution, and it starts to exhibit viscoelasticity as C exceeds 3.0 wt %. In the range C = 5.0-7.0 wt %, the salt-free system shows gellike behavior whereas the added salt system, measured in the low C range 1.0-2.5 wt %, showed gellike behavior at the same temperature. The sol-gel transition temperature T(c) was determined using Winter's criterion as the temperature at which both G'(omega) and G' '(omega) follow power law behavior with the same exponent n. DSC measurements reveal that salt-free and added salt systems take different types of thermal behavior within the same temperature range. The temperature T(c) is quite close to the gelation temperature T(m) determined from DSC measurement. The Eldrige-Ferry plot was performed to estimate activaton enthalpy, which shows that physical cross-links in the salt-free iota-carrageenan is not strong in comparison with those of samples which contains metal ions. We conclude from the data analysis of C dependence of the plateau modulus using the theory developed by Jones and Marques for rigid networks based on the fractal theories that addition of metallic ions gives rise to a rigid fiber like structure even at low C of iota-carrageenan in contrast to the salt-free system for which a flexible structure has been maintained at higher C.

Biopolymers↗