Aspartate Aminotransferase Activities Research Articles

No effect of grape juice on exercise-induced muscle damage or performance in male runners: a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial.

This study aimed to verify the effect of grape juice (Vitis Labrusca) intake on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and exercise performance parameters (5-km running time-trial [TT], running economy, and countermovement jump [CMJ]). Twenty trained male runners were randomized into two blinded groups and consumed either placebo (n=9) or grape juice (n=11) for six consecutive days (600 mL/day). On the fourth day, the participants performed a downhill running (-15%) at speed that elicited 70% V̇O2max for 20 minutes, to induce muscle damage, followed by assessment of running economy, 5-km TT, and CMJ tests. Blood samples were obtained before and after the exercise tests for quantifying total phenols, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). On the sixth day, blood parameters and CMJ were evaluated. A two-way ANCOVA mixed model was employed for data analysis, the effects were the juice groups, measurement and a interaction between the factors. EIMD was confirmed by increased levels of indirect markers (serum AST and LDH activities) and an impairment in TT and CMJ performances after 48 hours. The 5-km TT, economy, and CMJ were compromised after EIMD, to a similar extent in the groups. Blood concentrations of CK, LDH, AST, and total phenolic compounds presented similar time course behavior between the groups, showing no group × time interaction effects. In conclusion, grape juice consumption over six days did not attenuate EIMD markers or the impairment in running performance in trained male runners. (ReBEC number: RBR-9jkkvbb).

Effect of dietary Anabaena supplementation on nutrient utilization, metabolism and oxidative stress response in Catla catla fingerlings

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Anabaena blue-green algae (ABGA) meal on the growth performance, digestibility, and physio-metabolic responses of Catla catla fingerlings (initial average weight 9.45 ± 0.15 g). Six iso-nitrogenous (30% crude protein) and iso-caloric (378.09 Kcal. digestible energy/100 g) diets were formulated: a control diet (A0, 0% ABGA) and five experimental diets with varying ABGA inclusion levels (A3: 3%, A6: 6%, A9: 9%, A12: 12%, A15: 15%). The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in percentage weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the experimental groups. Additionally, dietary ABGA did not significantly affect (P > 0.05) body carcass composition among different groups. However, amylase activity significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the A12 and A15 fed groups, whereas lipase and protease activities remained insignificant (P > 0.05) across all groups. Notably, oxidative stress responses (SOD; superoxide dismutase and CAT; catalase), carbohydrate metabolic enzymes (LDH; lactate dehydrogenase and MDH; malate dehydrogenase), and serum glucose levels increased significantly (P < 0.05) with higher ABGA inclusion. Conversely, serum albumin content significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the ABGA-fed groups. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) observed in serum total protein, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities among the experimental groups. Hematological parameters revealed that RBC (red blood cell) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while WBC (white blood cell) count significantly (P < 0.05) increased with higher dietary ABGA inclusion. In conclusion, the inclusion of dietary ABGA up to 15% did not impair nutrient utilization and supported normal growth performance in C. catla fingerlings. However, higher inclusion levels may have a detrimental effect on their growth, nutrient utilization, and physio-metabolic responses.

Effects of Replacing Fish Meal with Rubber Seed Cake on Growth, Digestive, Antioxidant and Protein Metabolism of Juvenile Asian Red-Tailed Catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides).

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the impact of replacing fish meal (FM) with rubber seed cake (RSC) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity of the gut, antioxidant capacity and protein metabolism-related parameters of plasma and liver in juvenile Asian red-tailed catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) with an average body weight of 3.21 g. Four isonitrogenous (41.08 ± 0.17) and isolipidic (10.07 ± 0.11) diets were formulated, incorporating RSC at a level of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% (w/w) to progressively replace FM. Dietary inclusion of 15-30% RSC did not significantly affect growth performance (p > 0.05). However, the replacement of FM with RSC resulted in linear reductions in intestinal trypsin and amylase activities, with a significant reduction in intestinal amylase activity observed at the 45% RSC inclusion level. Dietary inclusion of 30-45% RSC decreased plasma glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, but increased plasma adenosine monophosphate deaminase and hepatic γ-glutamyltransferase activities. This may indicate that the high substitution of FM by RSC may affect the homeostasis of amino acid metabolism. Dietary inclusion of 15% RSC did not affect serum and hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities; however, dietary inclusion of 45% RSC significantly increased plasma malondialdehyde level, but decreased catalase activity. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 30-45% RSC significantly increased hepatic lactate dehydrogenase activity. These results demonstrated that replacing a portion of FM with RSC is feasible, and dietary inclusion of 15% RSC did not have significant adverse effects on growth performance, digestive function and antioxidant capacity of H. wyckioides.

The effect of resveratrol on the viability of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Background and aimResveratrol is a plant polyphenol that has antioxidant properties. In this research, in order to better understand the role of resveratrol on bone, the effect of different doses of resveratrol on the viability, proliferation, differentiation and biochemical factors of rat bone marrow mesenchyme stem cells (MSCs) was investigated. MethodsTo evaluate the ability of proliferation and differentiation, the MSCs were cultured up to three passages and were placed in culture media without osteogenic stimulation. At first to investigation the proliferation ability, the viability was evaluated by MTT test and trypan blue staining with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/L treatment doses after 12, 24 and 36 hours. Then, to investigation the differentiation ability, the effect of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/L treatment doses was assessed on the viability, electrolyte levels, and the activity of LDH, AST, ALP and ALT enzymes in differentiated cells after 5, 10, 15, and 21 days. To investigation the differentiation ability, the effect of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/L treatment doses was assessed on the viability, electrolyte levels, and the activity of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes in differentiated cells after 5, 10, 15, and 21 days. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test, and p<0.05 was considered as a significant level. ResultsThe obtained results showed that in mesenchyme cells, the level of viability does not change in low dose of resveratrol, however increase in the time followed by decrease in the activity of metabolic enzymes (ALP, ALT and AST P<0.5) and subsequently viability (p<0.05), and this trend was reversed with increasing resveratrol concentration (significant differences among 5 days and others). ConclusionThe effect of resveratrol depends on the type of cell and the treatment conditions, so it was shown in this study that the sensitivity of mesenchymal cells is higher than that of osteoblast cells. In addition, high doses of resveratrol had a positive effect on bone differentiation, so high doses of resveratrol can have a beneficial role on the health of mesenchymal cells and their differentiation into osteoblasts.

Mildly elevated serum prolactin level may be a protective factor for preventing thickening of the carotid intima-media in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To evaluate the correlation between the serum prolactin (PRL) level and carotid intimate-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, 1500 participants were divided into three groups based on the serum PRL levels: hypoprolactinemia group (PRL ≤ 7 μg/L); normal PRL level group (7 μg/L < PRL ≤ 25 μg/L); and homeostatic functionally increased transient PRL group (25 μg/L < PRL ≤ 100 μg/L). The independent-sample Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the CIMT among the three groups. The Spearman correlation test was used to examine the relationship between the CIMT, serum PRL level, and clinical data. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors that influence the CIMT. Individuals in the homeostatic functionally increased transient PRL group had a significantly lower CIMT compared to the hypoprolactinemia and normal PRL level groups (P < 0.001). The CIMT was positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, duration of T2DM, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and negatively correlated with alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities, the estimated glomerular filtration rate, and PRL. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that only PRL was negatively associated with the CIMT, while age and the systolic blood pressure were positively associated with the CIMT. In patients with T2DM, a PRL level within the mildly elevated range is negatively correlated with the CIMT. A mildly elevated serum PRL level may be a protective factor for preventing thickening of the CIMT.

Hesperetin-copper (II) complex improves liver glucose metabolism by regulating the IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in T2DM mice

The metal complexes of flavonoids have attracted widespread attention because of their distinct structural and functional characteristics. Hesperetin-Cu(II) complex [Hsp-Cu(II)] showed good hypoglycemic potential, but its hypoglycemic effect and mechanism in vivo are still vague. This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Hsp-Cu(II) on type 2 diabetic (T2DM) mice and its underlying mechanism. The results showed that Hsp-Cu(II) (50 mg/kg) effectively improved hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, increased the fast insulin level and HOMA-IR to alleviate the insulin resistance in the T2DM mice. Compared with the Diseased group, treatment of Hsp-Cu(II) at 50 mg/kg reduced the activities of α-amylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) by 31.7%, 45.5% and 35.1%, respectively; elevated the level of glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase by 27.2%, 71.7% and 36.7%, respectively, and decreased the malondialdehyde content by 23.6% to improve the liver antioxidant abilities; reduced the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase by 15.6% and 28.1%, as well as the levels of inflammatory factors to relieve liver damage. In addition, Hsp-Cu(II) activated the insulin receptor substrate-1/phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (IRS-1/PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway to up-regulate the protein expression levels of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (p-GSK-3β) and phospho-fork head box transcription factor O1 (p-FoxO1) and down-regulate the mRNA expression of PEPCK and G6Pase. Therefore, Hsp-Cu(II) may regulate hepatic glucose metabolism through IRS-1/PI3K/AKT‒GSK3β pathways to increase the hepatic glycogen content and IRS-1/PI3K/AKT‒FoxO1‒PEPCK/G6Pase pathways to inhibit gluconeogenesis, maintain hepatic glucose homeostasis, thus exerting the hypoglycemia effect in T2DM. These discoveries may provide a scientific basis for developing Hsp-Cu(II) as a food function factor to alleviate T2DM.

Age-dependent haemogram and sex-dependent serum biochemistry values in semi-feral Konik horses.

Semi-feral, free-roaming Konik polski horses are used in some European countries for preserving semi-open pasture landscapes. The estimation of their health status is still limited by insufficient data on various blood parameters. Therefore, our study aimed at the sex- and age-dependent analysis of haemogram and selected biochemistry parameters in healthy, semi-feral Koniks. In order to reach this aim, we took blood samples from 53 female and 18 male (8 uncastrated, 10 castrated) Koniks living in two Middle German nature reserves. They were of different age (9-266 months) and without signs of illness. Blood samples were analysed by an accredited laboratory. We identified age- but not sex-dependent changes in the white blood cell count (WBC). Higher age mainly caused a decrease in lymphocytes. Therefore, WBC correlated negatively and granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio positively with increasing age. Serum values of selected biochemical parameters did not depend on age but showed some sex-related differences. In this regard, serum total protein, triglyceride and the enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and g-glutamyltransferase were higher in males than females. However, the sex dependency of these enzymatic activities was restricted to uncastrated males. They also showed higher serum values for calcium and selenium than castrated males or all females. As far as the respective group sizes permitted, we then calculated age- or sex-dependent reference interval values for all parameters analysed. These values improve now the estimation of the health status of semi-feral, free-roaming Konik horses and provide a stable basis for future studies.

Docosahexaenoic acid alleviated liver lipid deposition and health damage induced by cholesterol accumulation in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂)

Cholesterol accumulation can be a critical pathological marker and, while, the cholesterol-lowering potential of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been documented extensively in mammals, its effects in fish are unclear. The present study investigated the adverse effects of cholesterol accumulation on liver health, and evaluated DHA as a potential cholesterol-lowering agent to mitigate liver damage induced by high cholesterol (HC) intake in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂). Grouper were fed either a control diet or an HC (1.6 %) diet supplemented with varying levels of DHA (0, 0.5, 1, 2 %) for eight weeks. The HC diet significantly increased condition factor (CF), mesenteric fat index (MFI), and lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride accumulation in liver. Supplementing the HC diet with 0.5 % DHA significantly reduced CF, MFI and liver lipid contents. Moreover, HC intake increased aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities in serum, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the expression of gene related to inflammatory responses and apoptosis in liver. In addition, HC intake significantly reduced mitochondrial biogenesis and total antioxidant capacity in liver. However, supplementing the HC diet with 0.5 % DHA significantly decreased liver cholesterol accumulation by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and promoting cholesterol efflux, and significantly reduced liver triglyceride content by inhibiting the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipid droplet formation. Furthermore, supplementation of the HC diet with 0.5 % DHA significantly reduced the activities of ALT and AST in serum, and MDA content and the expression of genes associated with inflammation, apoptosis and antioxidation in liver, and enhanced liver mitochondrial biogenesis. Overall, the results indicated that DHA supplementation mitigated liver cholesterol accumulation by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and promoting cholesterol efflux, and enhanced mitochondrial function, boosted antioxidant capacity, and reduced inflammation in liver of grouper fed the HC diet, ultimately alleviating liver damage caused by cholesterol accumulation. The present study elucidated the detrimental effects of cholesterol accumulation on liver health in aquatic animals and proposed DHA as a potential intervention for mitigating health issues associated with cholesterol overload.

Effects of Laurus nobilis essential oil nano-particles on growth performance, antioxidant and immune responses to bacterial infection in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

This study was designed to assess the effects of four feeds containing 0 (CTL), 25 mg/kg (LN25), 50 mg/kg (LN50) and 100 mg/kg (LN100) Laurus nobilis (LN) essential oil nano-liposomes (LN-NP) on Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. After 56 days of feeding with the above diets, growth performance and digestive enzyme activities determined in all treatments. Then, the fish were experimentally infected by Aeromonas hydrophila and their survival, antioxidant capacity, biochemical parameters and immune-related transcripts were measured, before and after the infection. The results showed that the growth rate and intestinal activities of amylase, lipase and protease were significantly higher in the LN50 and LN100 treatments than CTL. Post-infection survivals in the LN50 and LN100 treatments were similar and significantly higher than the CTL and LN25 treatments. Compared to the CTL treatment, the LN50 and LN100 treatments showed improved hepatic antioxidant parameters and lower malondialdehyde levels before and/or after infection. Infection significantly decreased plasma lysozyme and complement activities, but the LN50 and LN100 treatments had significantly higher activities before and after infection. These treatments had lower alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in plasma before and after infection, compared to the CTL treatment. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8 and interleukin-1 beta increased significantly in the LN50 and LN100 treatments, before and after infection, when compared to the CTL treatment. Based on the results, LN-NP at a dosage of 50 mg/kg is suitable for feeding Nile tilapia as it is a growth promoter and immunostimulator and increases the resistance of fish to A. hydrophila.

Potential hepatoprotective properties of synthetic derivatives of thiourea — 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320

BACKGROUND: Toxic hepatitis is characterized by a significant severity of the course and by high mortality. So, search for effective means of correcting this condition seems to be relevant. It has previously been shown that some thiazolo[5,4-b]indole derivatives are capable to prevent experimental toxic liver damage in laboratory animals. In continuation of this direction, the study of the hepatoprotective properties of synthetic derivatives of thiourea 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 was undertaken. AIM: To study the potential hepatoprotective properties of 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 in acute carbon tetrachloride poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were carried out on 30 male white outbred rats (150–270 g). On a model of carbon tetrachloride poisoning (50% solution of CCl4 in vaseline oil, 0.2 ml/100 g of body weight), the potential hepatoprotective properties of 2-aminobenzothiazole (32 mg/kg) and IEM-2320 (20 mg/kg) were investigated. Ademethionine (Heptral, AbbVie, S.r.L, Italy) at a dose of 20 mg/kg was used as a comparison drug. The studied drugs were administered intraperitoneally 4 times: one hour before the introduction of CCl4, and then — for three subsequent days after the poisoning with CCl4. The results were compared with those of 2 control groups. Animals of the 1st control group were not exposed to CCl4, instead of the studied drugs, they were injected with an equivalent volume of saline solution (0.2 ml/100 g of body weight). Animals of the 2nd control group did not receive any treatment after the CCl4 poisoning. Blood was taken on the seventh day of the experiment. The total contents of protein, glucose, and total cholesterol in blood serum were determined, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were evaluated. RESULTS: Under the CCl4 poisoning, the administration of 2-aminobenzothiazole led to a significant decrease in the concentrations of glucose, total protein, total cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase activity. When IEM-2320 was administered under the condition of poisoning, a decrease in the concentrations of total protein, glucose, urea, total cholesterol, and the alanine aminotransferase activity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease in the biochemical parameters of blood serum after administration of 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 under the condition of CCl4 poisoning demonstrates thir potential hepatoprotective properties under acute hepatotropic poisonings.

Complement activation targeted inhibitor C2-FH ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice.

Complement activation is recognized as an important factor in the progression of liver damage caused by acetaminophen (APAP). However, the role of the complement inhibitor C2-FH in APAP-induced liver injury remains unclear. To explore C2-FH in protecting against APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting complement activation. A model of APAP-induced liver injury was used to study the protective effect of C2-FH on liver injury. C2-FH was administered through intraperitoneal injection 30 minutes after APAP treatment. We detected the effects of C2-FH on liver function, inflammatory response and complement activation. Additionally, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis was conducted to understand the mechanism through which C2-FH provides protection against APAP-induced liver injury. C2-FH inhibited the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase activity, aspartate aminotransferase activity and lactate dehydrogenase, and reduced liver tissue necrosis caused by APAP. Moreover, it attenuated the inflammatory response and inhibited complement activation in APAP-induced liver injury. RNA-Seq analysis provided additional explanations for the protective role of C2-FH against APAP-induced liver injury. C2-FH attenuates APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting complement activation.

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides from Antarctic krill: Ameliorating function and mechanism to alcoholic liver injury through regulating AMPK/Nrf2/IκBα pathways

In this study, we devoted attention to the hepatoprotective functions of high Fischer ratio oligopeptides (HFOPs) from Antarctic krill (HFOPs-AK) on alcoholic liver injury of mice. The results indicated that HFOPs-AK significantly improved the pathological state of mice liver and kidney, reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, regulated lipid metabolism, and alleviated the burden on the liver. In addition, HFOPs-AK depicted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by reducing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) contents and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities to reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The hepatoprotective mechanism of HFOPs-AK was further revealed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, and the results proved that HFOPs-AK had the ability to stimulate the adenosine 5‘-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/nuclearrespiratoty factor 2 (Nrf2)/inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) signaling pathways, thereby regulating the expression levels of downstream factors. The activation of these signaling pathways is essential for the regulation of lipid metabolism as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. This finding offers a novel approach for the development of innovative hepatoprotective agents utilizing HFOPs-AK.

Microbiological and Haemato-biochemical Studies in Canine Pyometra

Background: Canine pyometra, is a pathological condition that results in the accumulation of purulent exudate in the uterus due to hormonal imbalance in female dogs. This is the most prevalent hormonally mediated reproductive disorder and life threatening disease of intact female dogs. The objective of the present study was to assess the physiological, haematological and biochemical changes and isolate the pathogenic microorganism present in the uterus of pyometra bitches. Methods: This study was carried out in ten bitches with a history of lethargy, depression, in appetence, polydipsia, occasional vomiting and vaginal discharge presented for treatment at the Veterinary Poly Clinic, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The disease was diagnosed by history, clinical signs, physical examination, imaging techniques haematology and biochemical study. The involvement of the pathogenic organism was confirmed by microbial examination of the pus-filled uterus after the ovariohysterectomy. Result: The result showed that physiological parameters rectal temperature, heart rate and respiration rate were increased in pyometra affected dog than healthy one. The haematological parameters of red blood cell count, haemoglobin and packed cell volume were decreased in pyometra affected dogs than healthy dogs. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis and eosinophilia condition also observed in pyometra affected dogs. Biochemically, increased Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) creatinine and hyperprotenimia were observed in pyometra dogs. Increased activity of hepatic enzyme Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also observed in pyometra dogs. The major pathogenic microorganisms involved in pyometra are Escherichia coli (40.25%), Staphylococcus (20.46%), Streptococcus (20.32%), Pseudomonas (6.41%), Proteus (6.32%) and Pasteurella (6.24%). Thus the dogs with pyometra show significant changes in physiological, haematological, biochemical parameters and growth of pathogenic microorganism in uterine fluid were the important indications of pyometra affected dogs.

Biochemical and Histopathological Analysis of Aqueous Extract of an Aphrodisiac Formulation against Acetaminophen Induce Hepatocyte Injuries in Wistar Rats

The aimed of this study was to examine the biochemical parameters and histopathological effects of aqueous extract of an aphrodisiac formulation against acetaminophen induce hepatocyte injuries in Wistar rats. Zainacin Dadin duniya (aphrodisiac herbs) extract was prepared by cold maceration. The animal study was done using 30 adult both male and female Wistar rats was grouped into 5 groups (n=6) and orally administered with five different treatments (saline, liver drug, acetaminophen, extract and extract/ acetaminophen) for the period of 28days. The blood is collected from each grouped rat for biochemical parameters test and all rats were later sacrificed for histologically processed investigation. The results showed that the oral administration of the acetaminophen in group 3 treated rats causes a significant (P&lt;0.05) increased in the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), but, when administered with the extract in group 4 rats, there was a significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased in the activities of ALT, AST and ALP. Significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased in the Kidney Function Markers (Creatinine, and Urea) and decreased in Glucose level in the group 3 rats treated with acetaminophen, when compared with the group 4 rats treated with the extract, there was a significant (p&lt;0.05) decreased in Creatinine, and Urea level and increased in the Glucose level. The serum total protein, Albumin, and Globulin significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased in the group 3 rats treated with acetaminophen while the bilirubin increased significantly. While group 4 rats showed significant increase in the total protein, Albumin, and Globulin and decreased in the bilirubin levels. The Results of Histopathology findings revealed hepatic tissue with distorted hepatocytes, portal vein, and sinusoids accompanied with massive necrosis in the liver of the group 3 rats treated with acetaminophen. While the liver of the group 4 rats showed, hepatic tissue with preserved architecture composed of cords of normal hepatocytes, normal portal vein, and sinusoids. There are no features of acute or chronic damage. The histologically Results of the small intestines of the all five (5) grouped rats showed preserved layers of muscosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa. There are no features of acute or chronic toxicity. Conclusively, the prolonged oral consumption of acetaminophen in animals resulted in hepatocellular deleterious effects and may be of a similar hazard in humans. Overall, administration of the extract in rats has significant ameliorative effect on the rats; this may be of immense benefits in the management of hepatocytes, necrosis in the liver and its associated biomarkers complications. Improved liver functions as well as improved antioxidant status are beneficial in the management of chronic diseases such as liver failure.

Nitric Oxide-Dependent Regulation of Oxygen-Related Processes in a Rat Model of Lead Neurotoxicity: Influence of the Hypoxia Resistance Factor

Background/Aims: Lead exposure is known to induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in modulating oxidative stress, with L-arginine as a precursor of NO and Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) as an inhibitor of NO synthase, an enzyme that catalyses the production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine. Methods: This study investigated the differential effects of L-arginine and L-NNA on markers of oxidative stress and biochemical changes in brain tissue from rats with different levels of resistance to hypoxia exposed to lead nitrate. Rats with either low or high resistance to hypoxia were exposed to lead nitrate (oral 3.6 mg lead nitrate/kg b.w. per day for 30 days) and treated with L-arginine (600 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 30 min before and after exposure to lead nitrate) or L-NNA (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 30 min before and after exposure to lead nitrate). Brain tissue samples were analysed for lipid peroxidation, oxidative modification of proteins, and activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and peroxidase, and total antioxidant status (TAS). We also examined the biomarkers of biochemical pathways involving the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH). In addition, the trend observed was supported by assessments of the acetylcholine levels and acetylcholinesterase activity (ACh-AChE system) in brain tissue. Results: In rats with low resistance to hypoxia, the L-arginine treatment significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidative protein modification but increased antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting a protective effect against lead-induced oxidative stress. Conversely, in rats with high resistance to hypoxia, L-NNA had a protective effect, reducing lead-induced oxidative damage and decreasing lipid peroxidation, whereas L-arginine exacerbated oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defences. These findings were supported by corresponding changes in the acetylcholine-acetylcholinesterase system, reflecting the observed patterns of lead-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. The study shows that L-arginine exerts a protective effect by reducing lead-induced oxidative damage via an improvement in TAS. Our study shows that lead nitrate exposure significantly increases ala-nine and aspartate aminotransferase activity in brain tissue, with L-arginine exacerbating and L-NNA reversing this effect. The lead nitrate exposure also affected the activities of SDH and KGDH, which are important for cellular energy production and hypoxia resistance, with L-arginine altering SDH activity depending on the level of resistance and L-NNA enhancing both SDH and KGDH activities. These trends were further validated by alterations in the ACh-AChE system, highlighting the differential role of NO-dependent mechanisms in modulating lead-induced neurotoxicity based on hypoxia resistance. Conclusion: These findings suggest potential targeted therapeutic strategies based on the oxidative stress profile and highlight the potential of nitric oxide system modulators in counteracting lead-induced biochemical alterations and the dynamics of the ACh-AChE system depending on the individual physiological reactivity of organisms.

Biochemical perturbations associated with Salmonella gallinarum infection in laying hens:Is oxidative stress implicated?

The aim of this study was to investigate some biochemical and tissue changes associated with Salmonella gallinarum infection in laying hens (LHs), and the complicities of oxidative stress (OS). Fifty LHs were assigned to two groups of 25 LHs infected with S. gallinarum (109 cfu*mL-1 of S. gallinarum) and 25 uninfected controls. Biochemical assays and histopathology were carried out following standard procedures. There was a significant loss of body weight, drop in egg production, as well as 28% mortality in the infected group. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as serum total protein, globulin, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, uric acid, creatinine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher, whereas serum albumin levels were significantly lower in infected LHs. There were inflammatory, degenerative and necrotic changes observed in the affected organs. Considering the significant elevation in MDA levels coupled with elevated SOD activity in the infected LHs, OS may play a significant role in the pathology of fowl typhoid and may suggest a possible treatment of infected layers with antioxidants.

Pueraria lobata extract ameliorates D-GalN/LPS-induced liver injury through targeting TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway and regulating gut microbiota

AbstractKudzu root (Pueraria lobata), known for its dual role as a medicinal herb and food ingredient, has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explored the effects of P. lobata extract (PLE) on D-galactose/lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS)-induced liver inflammation and oxidative stress in mice, along with its impact on gut microbiota. The in vivo studies indicated that PLE significantly reduced hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. It also lowered serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, indicating reduced liver damage, and mitigated oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde levels while restoring superoxide dismutase activity. Western blot analysis revealed that PLE inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB pathway proteins (p65 and IκB) and suppressed TLR4 expression, highlighting its role in this inflammatory pathway. Additionally, PLE ameliorated D-GalN/LPS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, reducing Proteobacteria abundance and promoting beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia. These findings suggest that PLE protects against liver inflammation and oxidative stress, while improving gut microbiota composition, offering potential therapeutic strategies for liver-related diseases.

Safety Assessment of Camelid-Derived Single-Domain Antibody as Feed Additive for Juvenile Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Against White Spot Syndrome Virus.

A six-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the safety of single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) derived from camelids against the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) (WSSVvp28 was used as the antigen), focusing on the whole-organism responses and molecular-level changes in juvenile whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Five experimental diets with varying levels of sdAbs were formulated: CON (no sdAb supplementation); SDA8.2 (8.20% of sdAbs); SDA16.4 (16.40% of sdAbs); SDA24.6 (24.60% of sdAbs); and SDA32.8 (32.80% of sdAbs). In the CON diet, 450 mL of water per kg of diet (45%) was used to form a feed dough, while sdAbs were used to replace the water in the treatment diets. A total of 450 shrimp, with an initial body weight of 3.27 ± 0.02 g (mean ± SEM), were randomly distributed in 15 tanks (30 shrimp per tank; three tanks per treatment). Each tank was filled with 30 L of seawater (77 L capacity) in an indoor semi-recirculating system with a constant water flow rate of 1.2 L min-1. The photoperiod was maintained at 12 h of light and 12 h of dark. The water temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were 27.3 ± 0.1 °C, 7.61 ± 0.01, 34 ± 1 ppt, and 5.94 ± 0.04 mg L-1, respectively. During the feeding trial, the shrimp were fed the experimental diet (40% protein and 11% lipid) three times a day for six weeks. Following the feeding trial, an acute cold-water-temperature stress test was conducted by abruptly exposing the shrimp from each treatment to 15 °C for 4 h, down from 27 °C. The results showed no significant differences in the growth performance (weight gain, feed utilization efficiency, survival, etc.), plasma metabolites (aspartate aminotransferase activity, alanine aminotransferase activity, total protein, and glucose), or antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) among all the experimental diets (p > 0.05). In the acute cold-temperature stress test, there was no significant interaction between sdAb supplementation and temperature stress, nor any main effect from either factor, except for the main effect of temperature stress on the glucose levels, which was significantly higher in shrimp exposed to cold-temperature stress (p < 0.05). The next-generation sequencing of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hepatopancreases of shrimp fed the CON, SDA16.4, and SDA32.8 diets, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, indicated that DEGs were significantly enriched in signaling pathways associated with growth, cold stress, and antioxidant systems. Overall, the results from conventional measurements suggest that the use of sdAbs against the WSSV may be safe for juvenile whiteleg shrimp. However, findings from the sophisticated analysis indicate that further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed changes, and to evaluate the long-term effects of sdAb supplementation in shrimp diets.

Safety assessment of three common food additives: the reproductive, oxidative and enzymatic perspective

This investigation was designed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity induced by potassium bromate (at doses of 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 mg/kg), sodium benzoate (at doses of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 mg/kg), and caramel IV (at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks) in male albino mice through the assessments of sperm abnormality and sperm count. The concentrations of the three additives tested were chosen purposefully based on the acceptable daily intake of each of the additives by standard organizations. The level of Total Testosterone (TT), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), as well as the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), were also measured. The results obtained showed that all three tested food additives led to a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in abnormal sperm cells among exposed mice. The sperm abnormalities observed include folded sperm, amorphous heads, distal droplets, absent hooks, improper tail attachments, and looped tails. Furthermore, it was observed that only mice exposed to potassium bromate and caramel exhibited a statistically significant decrease in mean sperm count. Alterations in the levels and activities of TT, ALT, FSH, AST, LH, and ALP were also observed to be concentration-dependent in the exposed mice. The findings suggest that the reproductive toxicity and changes in enzyme activities in the treated mice are dependent on the concentration of potassium bromate and sodium benzoate, as well as the duration of exposure to caramel IV. These indicate that high consumption of foods or beverages containing potassium bromate, sodium benzoate, and caramel IV colourant may induce reproductive abnormalities in the consumers.

Palygorskite improves growth performance and prevents liver damage in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli-challenged broiler chickens at an early age.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a major bacterial infection that causes economic losses in the global poultry industry. Palygorskite (PAL) has been shown to enhance growth performance while improving antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of broilers. This study evaluated the protective effects of PAL on growth performance and liver function in broilers subjected to APEC challenge. A total of 320 one-day-old male Arbor Acres chicks were divided into four groups with eight replicates of ten birds each, based on a 2×2 factorial arrangement (basal diet or 5g/kg PAL-supplemented diet) and inoculation (bacterial culture medium or APEC). PAL increased body weight gain (BWG) prior to APEC challenge (P < 0.05). However, APEC caused losses in BWG, feed intake (FI), and feed efficiency, along with increased relative hepatic weight, hepatic pathology scores, and hepatic-cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). Compared to normal birds, APEC increased interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as well as lysozyme (LZM) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, while decreasing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and IL-10 levels, and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in both serum and liver, APEC also raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, but reduced total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, and IgM levels in serum (P < 0.05). Moreover, APEC increased hepatic mRNA level of IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, nuclear factor kappa B, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), while inhibited mRNA level of IL-10 (P < 0.05). In contrast, PAL increased BWG and FI, alleviated hepatic-cell apoptosis rate during the challenge period (P < 0.05). An incorporation of PAL reduced triglyceride and NO contents, ALT and AST activities, while increasing TP, ALB, IL-10, IgG, and IgM levels in serum, enhancing serum T-SOD and CAT activities, elevating hepatic T-AOC and CAT activities, inhibiting hepatic MDA accumulation, and reducing IL-1β levels and LZM activity in both liver and serum (P < 0.05). An interactive effect was found for hepatic TNF-α and iNOS mRNA expression, in which PAL inhibited their mRNA expression in APEC-challenged birds (P < 0.05). Overall, PAL addition partially mitigated the negative impact of APEC challenge on growth performance and liver function of broiler chicks at an early age.