Imidacloprid Induces Neurotoxicity in Albino Male Rats by Inhibiting Acetylcholinesterase Activity, Altering Antioxidant Status, and Primary DNA Damage.

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a neonicotinoid insecticide used worldwide, either alone or in combination with other pesticides. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of IMI on the central nervous system of rats and its mechanism of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage by oxidant/antioxidant parameters. Fifteen male rats, divided into three groups, were used: the first group received 5 ml/kg body weight corn oil as a control, the second received a high oral dose of IMI (45 mg/kg body weight), while the third received a low dose (22 mg/kg body weight). After 28 days, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, oxidative stress markers, histopathological alterations, and DNA damage were examined in the brains of these rats. The AChE activities decreased significantly after IMI exposure, reaching 2.45 and 2.75 nmol/min/mg protein in high dose and low dose, respectively, compared to the control group (3.75 nmol/g tissues), while the concentration of malondialdehyde MDA increased significantly (29.28 and 23.92 nmol/g tissues) vs. the control group (19.28 nmol/g tissues). The antioxidant status parameters such as reduced glutathione (GSH) content was 13.77 and 17.63 nmol/g, catalase (CAT) activity was 22.56 and 26.65 µmol/min/g, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was 6.66 and 7.23 µmol/min/g in both doses against the control group (21.37 nmol/g, 30.67 µmol/min/g, 11.76 µmol/min/g), respectively, and histopathological changes in the brain tissues were observed. More in vivo research using epigenetic methods is needed to determine the ability of IMI and its metabolites to cause neurotoxicity and DNA lesions in mammalian brains.

Ameliorative effects of the phytochemicals in dates (Phoenix dactylifera) against the toxicological changes induced by fipronil in male albino rats.

Scientific evidence has shown that fipronil induces oxidative stress and genotoxicity. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential oxidation in redox parameters and DNA, as well as determine the protective effect of date extract of increasing resistance to cellular damage. 30 Male albino rats were divided into six groups ( n = 5): 1) control group; 2) treatment group with date extract (1 g/kg B.W.); 3) treatment group with 1/20 LD50 of fipronil; 4) treatment group with 1/40 LD50 of fipronil; 5) treatment group with 1/20 LD50 of fipronil + 1 g/kg date extract; and 6) treatment group with 1/40 LD50 of fipronil + 1 g/kg dates extract. Date extract showed a high content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties. Fipronil increased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels and lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde but decreased the total antioxidant capacity in plasma. Moreover, glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels in the liver and kidney decreased, along with histopathological abnormalities. Additionally, tail moment parameters of liver DNA and micronucleus frequencies in the bone marrow increased. This study showed that fipronil-induced various health hazards in vivo, whereas date extract alleviated the said toxicological effects. However, date extract failed to reduce genotoxicity.

Antiproliferative, Apoptotic Effects and Suppression of Oxidative Stress of Quercetin against Induced Toxicity in Lung Cancer Cells of Rats: In vitro and In vivo Study.

In the present study, quercetin was examined against lung human cancer cells using A549 and H69 cancer cell lines in addition to normal non cancer cells (W138). Two genes Bax and Bcl-2 that play an important role in apoptosis pathways were investigated. Also Immunohistochemical study for caspase-3 which is considered as indicator for apoptosis was performed. Quercetin showed good anti proliferative activity against tested lung cancer cell lines, IC50 values on A549 are 8.65, 7.96 and 5.14 µg/ml at 24, 48 and 72h respectively. Also significant effects of quercetin on Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were observed, that can prove its ability to induce apoptosis. On the other hand quercetin showed good therapeutic effects against cyclophosphamide induced lung toxicity that were observed in the histopathology study. In vitro studies were also performed such as cell cycle analysis through flowcytometry. The obtained results from all these performed analysis proved that quercetin can induce apoptosis in human lung cancer cells, additionally quercetin showed ability to reduce MDA and increase SOD and GSHP levels which indicates its ability in suppressing oxidative stress, Quercetin has played a therapeutic role in cyclophosphamide induced lung toxicity as it has improved restoring of the damaged lung tissue as discussed in this research work.

Ultrastructural comparison between the tongue of two reptilian species endemic in Egyptian fauna; Bosc's fringe-toed lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus and Sinai fan-fingered gecko Ptyodactylus guttatus.

The current observations focused on the ultrastructure comparison between the tongue of two reptile species endemic the Egyptian fauna; Bosc's fringe-toed lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus and Sinai fan-fingered gecko Ptyodactylus guttatus to exhibit the relationship between the lingual epithelium and its function according to their specific feeding strategy. A. boskianus possessed triangular elongated tongue with bifurcated tapering apex and wide base while; the P. guttatus had a triangular flattened tongue with conical shallow bifurcated apex and broad base. The ventral surface of the lingual apex of A. boskianus had transverse while in P. guttatus had two oval pads and median ventral groove. Both surfaces of the tongue of both examined species are covered by stratified squamous epithelium with great variability of degree of keratinization. The dorsal epithelium formed flattened and conical filiform papillae in A. boskianus, while in P. guttatus formed cylindrical papillae, conical, and tall filiform ones. Few taste buds are observed on the fore-tongue but increase on the mid-tongue of A. boskianus, while in P. guttatus, numerous taste buds are distributed on the fore-tongue and mid-tongue. Both surfaces of the laryngeal mound of both examined species provided with numerous of cilia and orifices of laryngeal gland. The present results confirmed that the tongue of A. boskianus acts as a chemoreceptor organ to follow pheromone trails of prey and mates. While in P. guttatus the tongue may play an important role in the feeding mechanism and act as a chemoreceptor organ.