Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics altered the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis role in hormonal regulation, inducing reproductive toxicity in albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Nanoplastics can be considered a novel contaminant for the environment because of their extensive applications in modern society, which represents a possible threat to humans. Nevertheless, the negative effect of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on male reproduction, fertility, and progeny outcomes is not well known. Thus, the aim of the present work was to calculate the median lethal dose (LD50) and investigate the consequences of exposure to PS-NPs (25 nm) on male reproductive toxicity. METHODS: This investigation first determined the LD50 of PS-NPs in male Wistar rats, and then in a formal study, 24 rats were distributed into three groups (n = 8): the control group; the low-dose group (3 mg/kg bw); and the high-dose group (10 mg/kg bw) of PS-NPs administered orally for 60 days. On the 50th day of administration, the fertility test was conducted. RESULTS: The LD50 was determined to be 2500 mg/kg. PS-NP administration induced significant alternations, mainly indicating mortality in the high-dose group, a significant elevation in body weight gain, declined sperm quality parameters, altered reproductive hormonal levels, thyroid endocrine disruption, an alternation of the normal histo-architecture and the histo-morphometric analysis of the testes, and impaired male fertility. CONCLUSION: Altogether, the current findings provide novel perspectives on PS-NP general toxicity with specific reference to male reproductive toxicity.

Evaluation of Chlorella vulgaris biosorption capacity for phosphate and nitrate removal from wastewater.

High wastewater production rates during the past few decades are mostly attributable to anthropogenic activities. The main components leading to the nutrient enrichment of natural water bodies are such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other minerals. The main focus of this research was to assess the ability of using Chlorella vulgaris algae, a potent and environmentally benign material, to eliminate phosphate and nitrate ions from wastewater. FTIR results showed that the biologically active molecules that facilitate the binding of phosphate and nitrate ions unto the C. vulgaris are C=C and N-H amid. The ideal equilibrium time for adsorption was 24 h with an optimum pH of 7 and the mass ratio of algae and different anions concentration was 80%. Freundlich isotherm model was the best-fitted isotherm. Moreover, the results of the experiment fit more closely with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model than other models. Elovich kinetic model data for both ions showed that the adsorption rate was much higher than the desorption rate. The growing popularity of biosorbents in treating wastewater has led to an improvement in their affordability and availability, and C. vulgaris may now represent an environmentally friendly choice from an environmental, and economic standpoint.

Assessment of Ismailia Canal for irrigation purposes by water quality indices.

Ismailia Canal is one of the significant streams of the Nile River in Egypt. The study aimed to determine the water quality of Ismailia Canal based on the regional and seasonal variability of physicochemical parameters, irrigation criteria, and the irrigation water quality index (IWQI). It was observed that the physicochemical parameters were within the acceptable FAO irrigation limits. All cations and anions values were within the acceptable FAO limits for irrigation, except the potassium (K+) concentrations were over the permissible irrigation limits. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) suggested a significant seasonal variation in the canal's water quality concerning all parameters (p value ˂ 0.05). However, the regional variation among various sites was statistically insignificant (p value > 0.05). Statistical analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between different parameters, and the study showed highly significant correlation coefficients between different pairs of water quality parameters. The correlation matrix showed that the pH significantly affected IWQI (r = 0.661). The irrigation criterion values for Ismailia Canal were good, and the WQI levels for irrigation utilization at all studied sites were satisfactory. Deterioration of water quality may occur due to industrial, municipal, and agricultural activities. Drainage water should be treated before being mixed with irrigation water to improve its suitability for irrigation.

Destructive effect of iron overload in brain tissue of albino rats: Ameliorative role of silver immobilized organo-modified casein nanocomposite as co-treating agent with Deferasirox.

BACKGROUND: Iron (Fe) is one of the most essential trace elements in the body that play crucial role in organisms' survival, however, excess deposition of it puts patients at higher risk of iron overload and tissue injury through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevation of oxidative stress, development of endocrine disorders among which hypogonadism, and increased incidence of cells damage in vital organs. As deferasirox (DFX) is an approved Fe chelator drug, its inability to cross blood brain barrier (BBB) remains a definite obstacle against its use as Fe chelator in the brain. Lately, attention to nanoparticles usage in researches has been widely grown since their role in improving drug therapeutic effects and scavenging free radicals make them good candidates as chelating and antioxidant agents. AIMS: Herein, after induction of iron overload, organo-modified casein immobilized silver nanocomposite (Ag@Tr-CA) was designed and explored as combined therapy with DFX drug to develop its penetrating efficiency toward BBB and its Fe chelating affinity. Moreover, to distinguish the advanced antioxidant character as well as the beneficial impact of it on lowering brain's oxidative stress. Meanwhile, its capability in regulating serum pituitary hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and testosterone (T), ameliorating DNA damage, and improving brain's histopathological alterations was also assessed. METHODS: The physicochemical characteristics of Ag@Tr-CA was carried out using X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) analyses. Effect of iron overload and subsequent treatment with DFX + Ag@Tr-CA on brain of adult male albino rats were evaluated using colorimetric methods to determine brain Fe concentration and brain oxidative stress biomarkers. Assessment of serum Fe indices and serum pituitary hormones (FSH, LH, PRL) and T were estimated by ELISA technique. Determination of DNA damage in cerebral cortex cells was accomplished using the alkaline version of comet assay, while detection of brain's histopathological alterations was performed by examination of H&E sections under light microscope. RESULTS: The physicochemical characteristics of Ag@Tr-CA showing the proficiency of Ag nanoparticles (∼35 nm) in creating highly-ordered negatively charged micro-sized casein particles (∼450 µm). After induction of iron overload, DFX + Ag@Tr-CA combination efficiently down brain Fe concentration, brain oxidative stress markers, and DNA damage in cerebral cortex cells linked with improvements in brain histopathological alterations. Comparing DFX therapeutic action alone to its combination to whether Ag@Tr-CA or Tr-CA (organo-modified cross-linked casein nanoparticles) as co-treating agents revealed no significant effect on serum Fe indices, FSH, LH, PRL, and T against iron overload disease. CONCLUSION: The present results showed that combination of Ag@Tr-CA nanocomposite with DFX makes it a promising co-treating agent against iron overload through improving the physiological, molecular, and histological structure of the brain in iron overloaded rats.

Immunological and histopathological changes in sheep affected with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and treated immunotherapeutically.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recently, it has been recorded unexpected percentage of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in sheep. Despite the improvement in surgical treatment, the outcome of animals remains limited by metastatic relapse. Although antibodies for cancer treatment have been practiced for many decades, the use of this methodology in animals is deficient. This study aimed to establish cSCC therapy by tumor cell protein antibody (Ab1) or secondary antibody (Ab2) raised by two series of immunization in the same strain of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 Ossimi sheep were used (14 sheep suffered from cSCC and 5 were apparently healthy). Each animal from control healthy group (n=5) and control cSCC (n=4) group was treated with a course of eight injections of normal globulins. Animals in the third (n=5) and the last (n=5) groups received a course of eight injections of Ab1and Ab2, respectively. Each tumor was measured before and after treatment. The eight injections were applied at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th week and the remaining three injections were at 1 week interval. Tissue specimens and blood samples were taken for histological and immunological studies. RESULTS: The obtained results revealed that injection of Ab1 might prevent the bad prognostic picture of polymorph infiltration without any criteria of regression % of tumor. Treatment with Ab2 showed regression of tumor size ranged between minimum of 8.99% and maximum of 78.12%, however, the measurements in most cases reached the maximum regression after the past two injections. In additions, infiltration of lymphocytes to tumor site, normalization of leukocytes picture and also increase of antibody titer were observed. CONCLUSION: This profile might confirm that Ab2 could act as an antigen and encourage us to use it as a tumor vaccine. Extensive studies are needed to isolate the idiotypic portion of Ab1 for raising Ab2 as an anti-idiotypic antibody to be used as tumor vaccine. The question of how lymphocyte traffic to the tumor site as a result of Ab2 injection needs further investigation.

Fetotoxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rats and the protective role of vitamin E.

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential role of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in inducing developmental toxicity and oxidative damage in pregnant rats and their fetuses as well as to assess the efficacy of vitamin E to prevent or alleviate such defects. Pregnant rats received 2,4-D (100 mg/kg bw) alone or in combination with vitamin E (100 mg/kg bw) daily from gestation day 1 to 19. The number of implantations, viable and resorbed fetuses and sex ratio were not statistically different among groups. However, fetuses maternally treated with 2,4-D were characterized by lower body weight and higher morphologic and skeletal defect rate. 2,4-D induced oxidative stress in the liver of mothers and fetuses which was indicated by a significant elevation of malondialdehyde level with reduction in catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity. Coadministration of vitamin E can counteract the deleterious effects of 2,4-D by successive reduction in the oxidative stress.