The potential use of daphnia meal as substitute for fishmeal in diets of hybrid red tilapia affects growth performance, activities of digestive enzymes, antioxidant, immune status and intestinal histological parameters.

The current study aimed to evaluate growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant status, nonspecific immune response and intestinal histological status of red tilapia fed Daphnia meal (DM) as a substitute for fishmeal (FM). Hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis aureus) fry (0.54 ± 0.05 g fish-1) was allocated in nylon haba cages (100 fry m-3) for 2 weeks as an acclimation period. The fish were divided into five groups (three replicates each). The experimental diets were prepared by replacing FM with DM at concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% respectively. The results indicated that fish fed increasing levels of DM (50%-75%) experienced high growth performance, feed utilisation and protein content. The activities of digestive enzymes were significantly increased in all groups fed DM diets compared to the control. The antioxidant balance was improved by decreasing the level of malondialdehyde and increased the total antioxidant capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase activities in the liver of fish fed DM. The nonspecific immune response, including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase activities and total protein level improved significantly with increasing FM substitution levels by DM in a dose-dependent manner. Histometric analysis of the intestinal wall revealed an increase in the villus length, crypts depth and goblet cells number in groups fed DM meal up to 50% substitution level compared to other treatments. It may be concluded from results of this feeding trial that in the aquaculture of hybrid tilapia, FM may be substituted with up to 50% DM without compromising intestinal health, growth performance and immune status of the fish.

Pomegranate peel extract protects against the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats by inhibiting pyroptosis and downregulating LncRNA-MALAT1.

Background: Pyroptosis is an inflammatory programmed cell death accompanied by activation of inflammasomes and maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-18. Pyroptosis is closely linked to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC). Pomegranate peel extract (PPE) exhibits a cardioprotective effect due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the protective effect of PPE on the myocardium in a rat model of DC and determine the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats in the treated groups received (150 mg/kg) PPE orally and daily for 8 weeks. The effects on the survival rate, lipid profile, serum cardiac troponin-1, lipid peroxidation, and tissue fibrosis were assessed. Additionally, the expression of pyroptosis-related genes (NLRP3 and caspase-1) and lncRNA-MALAT1 in the heart tissue was determined. The PPE was analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and NMR for characterizing the phytochemical content. Results: Prophylactic treatment with PPE significantly ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy in the diabetic rats and increased the survival rate. Moreover, prophylactic treatment with PPE in the diabetic rats significantly improved the lipid profile, decreased serum cardiac troponin-1, and decreased lipid peroxidation in the myocardial tissue. Histopathological examination of the cardiac tissues showed a marked reduction in fibrosis (decrease in collagen volume and number of TGF-ß-positive cells) and preservation of normal myocardial structures in the diabetic rats treated with PPE. There was a significant decrease in the expression of pyroptosis-related genes (NLRP3 and caspase-1) and lncRNA-MALAT1 in the heart tissue of the diabetic rats treated with PPE. In addition, the concentration of IL-1ß and caspase-1 significantly decreased in the heart tissue of the same group. The protective effect of PPE on diabetic cardiomyopathy could be due to the inhibition of pyroptosis and downregulation of lncRNA-MALAT1. The phytochemical analysis of the PPE indicated that the major compounds were hexahydroxydiphenic acid glucoside, caffeoylquinic acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, gallic acid, and punicalagin. Conclusion: PPE exhibited a cardioprotective potential in diabetic rats due to its unique antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties and its ability to improve the lipid profile. The protective effect of PPE on DC could be due to the inhibition of the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1ß signaling pathway and downregulation of lncRNA-MALAT1. PPE could be a promising therapy to protect against the development of DC, but further clinical studies are recommended.

Therapeutic Effect of Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells and Human Placental Extract on Testicular Toxicity Resulting from Doxorubicin in Rats.

Oncotherapeutics like doxorubicin can affect male gonads; as a result, it leads to infertility. This work was conducted to demonstrate the toxic effects of doxorubicin on testes of male albino rats. Fifty male albino rats aged 5-7 weeks were used in this study. The animals were randomly separated into 5 sets (each set containing ten rats). Group I received saline (i.p.) for 4 weeks. Group II was given doxorubicin (DOX), 5 mg/kg BW (i.p.) once/week for 4 weeks. Groups III and IV were treated in the same way as the DOX group, left for one week without medication, and then injected with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or human placental extract (HPE) therapy in a single dose of 5 × 106 in 200 ml PRP/week or 40 µl placental extract for 4 weeks via the caudal vein. Group V rats were treated in the same way as the DOX group also, left for one week without medication, and then injected with MSC+HPE. A significant decrease in serum testosterone, FSH, and LH levels was observed in rats treated with DOX compared to the control group. A significant elevation was recorded in rats treated with DOX+MSC or DOX+HPE when compared with the DOX group only. Rats that were given MSC+HPE after DOX intoxication showed a significant increase in hormone levels when compared to rats treated with either MSC or HPE. Light and electron microscopic examinations revealed that DOX intoxication initiated degenerative and necrotic changes in seminiferous tubules associated with partial or complete cessation of spermatogenesis. These effects were reversed by the effect of MSC or HPE. Coadministration of MSC and HPE even showed further improvement. Finally, we can say that doxorubicin has a deleterious impact on rat testes; however, therapeutic effects can be induced through MSC and/or HPE administration.