Methanolic extract of Chlorella vulgaris protects against sodium nitrite-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

The current study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) extract against the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity. Forty-five male Wistar albino rats were assigned into five groups (n = 9). Control group received normal saline orally for 3 months, CV-treated: administered CV extract (70 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, sodium nitrite-treated: received sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, co-treated: simultaneously received CV along with sodium nitrite treatment, orally, daily for 3 months, and CV-pre-treated: pre-treated with CV extract for 4 weeks followed by simultaneous treatment with sodium nitrite and CV extract for additional 8 weeks. Treatment with sodium nitrite significantly decreased serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations, sperm count, motility, and viability. Besides, it decreased testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while increased malondialdehyde concentration. This effect of sodium nitrite was associated with degenerative, necrotic, vascular, and inflammatory changes in testicular tissues. Treatment of sodium nitrite-intoxicated rats with CV in co-treated and pre-treated groups significantly prevented sodium nitrite-induced alterations of sperm parameters, hormonal concentrations, testicular oxidative-antioxidant status, and histological architecture. This study indicates that CV extract ameliorates the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity via improving reproductive hormonal levels and testicular antioxidant activities.

Comparative Toxicological Effects of Biologically and Chemically Synthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are widely used as feed additives for livestock and poultry and implicated in many biomedical applications; however, overload of copper NPs induces various toxicological changes and dysfunction of animal's organs. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the comparative toxicological effects of biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs on mice. METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to characterize the sizes, shapes and functional groups of CuO-NPs. Forty-five mice were randomly allocated into three groups. Control group received distilled water. The second group was administered a single dose of biologically synthesized CuO-NPs (500 mg/kg bw) orally. The third group was administered a single dose of chemically synthesized CuO-NPs (500 mg/kg bw) orally. RESULTS: TEM revealed that biologically synthesized NPs were spherical in shape, whereas chemically synthesized NPs were spherical or elongated in shape. XRD showed that the size of biologically synthesized NPs ranged from 4.14 to 12.82 nm and that of chemically synthesized NPs ranged from 4.06 to 26.82 nm. FT-IR spectroscopy indicated that the peaks appeared between 779 cm-1 and 425 cm-1 in biologically synthesized NPs and between 858 cm-1 and 524 cm-1 in chemically synthesized NPs were for Cu-O nanostructure. Four mice died due to administration of biologically synthesized CuO-NPs. Both biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs induced leukocytosis, elevated serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and serum levels of urea and creatinine and increased P53 mRNA and caspase-3 protein expressions in hepatic tissues. Moreover, CuO-NPs induced degenerative and necrotized changes in hepatic, renal and splenic tissues. Biochemical, apoptotic and pathological changes were more serious in mice administered with biologically synthesized CuO-NPs. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that a high dose of biologically and chemically synthesized CuO-NPs induced adverse effects on hepatic, renal and splenic tissues. At the same dose level, the biologically synthesized CuO-NPs evoked more potent toxic effects than the chemically synthesized CuO-NPs.

Moringa oleifera leaves extract enhances fresh and cryopreserved semen characters of Barki rams.

This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaves extract (MOLE) to improve the characters of fresh and cryopreserved semen of Barki rams compared to vitamin E and Selenium combination. Twenty-four mature Barki rams (50-70 Kg) were randomly assigned into three groups, eight rams each. The first group was given distilled water orally. The second group was given MOLE orally daily at a dose of 40 mg/kg. The third group was injected with a combination of vitamin E and selenium at a dose of 3 ml (4.5 mg sodium selenite and 204 mg vitamin E)/head i.m twice a week for 64 days. Moringa oleifera leaves extract increased semen volume, sperm concentration, activities of seminal plasma catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), levels of ascorbic acid and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In addition, it significantly increased post thawing sperms motility, viability index, membrane integrity, and the activities of post thawing semen antioxidant enzymes. While it decreased seminal plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and acrosomal defects and DNA fragmentation of sperm in cryopreserved semen. Vitamin E and selenium decreased semin volume, sperm concentration, seminal plasma ascorbic acid, TAC concentrations and activities of antioxidant enzymes while it increased sperm abnormalities, DNA fragmentation and MDA concentration in seminal plasma. This study indicated that Moringa oleifera leaves extract improved the characters of the fresh and cryopreserved semen of Barki rams via improving seminal plasma antioxidant defense mechanism.

Neuroprotective Potential of Allium sativum against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity: Impact on Short-Term Memory, Gliosis, and Oxidative Stress.

This study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of Allium sativum against monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced neurotoxicity with respect to its impact on short-term memory in rats. Forty male Wistar albino rats were assigned into four groups. The control group received distilled water. The second group was administered Allium sativum powder (200 mg/kg of body weight) orally for 7 successive days, then was left without treatment until the 30th day. The third group was injected intraperitoneally with MSG (4 g/kg of body weight) for 7 successive days, then left without treatment until the 30th day. The fourth group was injected with MSG in the same manner as the third group and was treated with Allium sativum powder in the same manner as the second group, simultaneously. Phytochemical analysis of Allium sativum powder identified the presence of diallyl disulphide, carvone, diallyl trisulfide, and allyl tetrasulfide. MSG-induced excitotoxicity and cognitive deficit were represented by decreased distance moved and taking a long time to start moving from the center in the open field, as well as lack of curiosity in investigating the novel object and novel arm. Moreover, MSG altered hippocampus structure and increased MDA concentration and protein expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), calretinin, and caspase-3, whereas it decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and protein expression of Ki-67 in brain tissue. However, Allium sativum powder prevented MSG-induced neurotoxicity and improved short-term memory through enhancing antioxidant activity and reducing lipid peroxidation. In addition, it decreased protein expression of GFAP, calretinin, and caspase-3 and increased protein expression of Ki-67 in brain tissues and retained brain tissue architecture. This study indicated that Allium sativum powder ameliorated MSG-induced neurotoxicity through preventing oxidative stress-induced gliosis and apoptosis of brain tissue in rats.

Ginseng aqueous extract ameliorates lambda-cyhalothrin-acetamiprid insecticide mixture for hepatorenal toxicity in rats: Role of oxidative stress-mediated proinflammatory and proapoptotic protein expressions.

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effects of Panax ginseng aqueous extract (GAE) against hepatorenal toxicity induced by lambda-cyhalothrin-acetamiprid insecticide mixture in rats. A total of 32 male albino rats were assigned into four groups. Normal control group received distilled water. Insecticide control group intoxicated with the insecticide at a dose of 2.14 mg/kg b.wt orally day after day for 45 days. GAE control group was treated with GAE at a dose 200 mg/kg b.wt orally. GAE experimental group was administered GAE 1 hour before insecticide administration. Intoxication of rats with the insecticide caused a significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities and urea and creatinine levels as well as malondialdehyde concentration and proteins expression of caspase-3 and induced nitric oxide synthase in hepatic and renal tissues. However, it decreased the serum levels of total protein and globulin and reduced the glutathione content and catalase activity in hepatic and renal tissues. In addition, insecticide induced histopathological alterations in both hepatic and renal tissues. In contrast, GAE modulated insecticide-induced alterations in liver and kidney functions and structures as it ameliorated the effects of insecticide on the above mentioned parameters. These results indicated that GAE was a potent antioxidant agent that could protect rats against insecticide-induced hepatorenal toxicity.

Trigonella foenum-graecum ameliorates acrylamide-induced toxicity in rats: Roles of oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and DNA damage.

Acrylamide is a hazardous substance inducing oxidative stress. Based on some evidence on the antioxidant properties of fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum, this study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of fenugreek seed oil against acrylamide toxicity. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups. The control group was given normal saline. The second group was administered acrylamide (20 mg/kg bw orally). The third and fourth groups were administered acrylamide (20 mg/kg bw) and supplemented with 2.5% and 5% fenugreek seed oil in their diets, respectively. Acrylamide intoxication significantly increased serum levels of LDH, AST, ALT, APL, γ-GT, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, creatinine, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α. Moreover, it increased hepatic, renal, and brain lipid peroxidation, while it impaired the activities and concentrations of the antioxidant biomarkers. Fenugreek oil supplementation normalized the altered serum parameters, prevented lipid peroxidation, and enhanced the antioxidant biomarker concentrations and activities in the hepatic, renal, and brain tissues of acrylamide-intoxicated rats in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, these results indicate that Trigonella foenum-graecum oil has a protective effect against acrylamide-induced toxicity through its free radical scavenging and potent antioxidant activities.

Trigonella foenum-graecum protection against deltamethrin-induced toxic effects on haematological, biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters in rats.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. is enriched with many active ingredients. TFG oil was evaluated for its protective effect against deltamethrin toxicity in rats. Rats of the control group were administered saline. The 2nd group was administered deltamethrin (DLM) orally at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body mass. The 3rd and 4th groups were administered DLM at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body mass and were fed diets containing 2.5% and 5% TFG oil, respectively. DLM intoxication reduced red blood cell and platelet counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit value while it induced leucocytosis. Furthermore, it increased serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, and creatinine; increased hepatic, renal, and brain lipid peroxidation; decreased serum acetylcholine esterase level; and decreased hepatic, renal, and brain antioxidant markers' activities. However, TFG oil kept the studied hematological and biochemical parameters within normal ranges. In addition, it prevented lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress induced by DLM intoxication in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, these results indicated that TFG oil inhibited the toxic effects of DLM on hematological and biochemical parameters as well as oxidative status by its free radical scavenging and potent antioxidant activities, and it appeared to be a promising protective agent against DLM-induced toxicity.

Retinol binding protein 4 in dairy cows: its presence in colostrum and alteration in plasma during fasting, inflammation, and the peripartum period.

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a plasma protein involved in retinol transportation, and recent evidence in rodents suggests that RBP4 is also a metabolic regulator that modifies insulin sensitivity. To assess how RBP4 levels are regulated in ruminants, we determined the RBP4 concentrations in bovine plasma and milk using Western blot analysis. Plasma RBP4 levels in non-pregnant non-lactating (control) cows were around 45 microg/ml, which were sustained during 60-h fasting, but decreased significantly 4 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Basal plasma retinol concentration was around 30 microg/dl, but this decreased to approximately one-third and one-half of these values during fasting and 8 h after LPS challenge, respectively. Plasma RBP4 and retinol levels in cows 3-6 d before parturition were comparable to those of the controls. However, on the day of parturition both were significantly decreased and had returned to basal levels by two weeks after calving. Interestingly, RBP4 was clearly detected in colostrum (16.4+/-5.6 microg/ml) but was only faintly detected in milk from cows at 7 d and 15 d after calving. Retinol concentrations in colostrum were almost 10-fold higher than those in plasma, while those in milk were comparable to those in plasma. These results suggest that RBP4 and retinol levels are independently regulated under physiological and pathophysiological conditions and that RBP4, like retinol, is transferred from maternal stores to calves through colostrum.