Liver Total Antioxidant Capacity Research Articles

Effects of Ginger Straw Silage with Enzymes on Growth Performance, Digestion and Metabolism, Meat Quality and Rumen Microflora Diversity of Laiwu Black Goat.

Laiwu black goats comprise an excellent local germplasm resource; however, a shortage of feed resources has led to the application of unconventional feed. Ginger straw feed has good physiological effects, but research on this feed source for ruminant animals is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of enzymatic silage ginger straw on Laiwu black goat performance. The experiment used an independent sample t-test analysis method; 24 healthy Laiwu black goats with a body weight of 20.05 ± 1.15 kg and age of 5.67 ± 0.25 months were randomly divided into two groups with three replicates (bars) per group and four goats per replicate. The experimental diet was composed of mixed concentrate, silage, and garlic peel at a 2:7:1 ratio. The silage used in the two groups was whole corn silage (CON group) and 60% whole corn silage plus 40% enzymatic silage ginger straw (SG group), and the other components were identical. Daily feed intake/daily gain (F/G) was significantly higher in the SG group than in the CON group (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility between the groups. The shear force, cooking loss, centrifugal loss, and pressure loss of the longissimus dorsi muscle group were significantly lower in the SG than in the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with those in the CON group, the serum and liver total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased in the SG group, and in the liver, the O2·-, malondialdehyde, and OH· contents were significantly decreased. Collectively, the rumen fluid microbial diversity was changed in the SG group. It was concluded that enzymatic silage ginger straw usage instead of 40% whole silage corn as feed for Laiwu black goats can significantly improve the muscle quality, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal flora, with no adverse effects on production performance. In conclusion, our study provides a basis for ginger straw processing and storage and its rational application in the Laiwu black goat diet.

Effect of Dietary Seaweed (Gracilaria pulvinata and Sargassum ilicifolium) on Serum and Mucosal Immunity, Some Growth and Immune‐Related Genes Expression, Antioxidant Status, and Fatty Acid Profile in Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer)

This study was done to appraise the effects of the combination of dietary Gracilaria pulvinata and Sargassum ilicifolium on growth, immunity, and fatty acid profile in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). A total of 540 juveniles (36.06 ± 0.05 g) were stocked into eighteen 200 L tanks and divided into six experimental treatments, each in triplicate. Fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 3% (SW3), 6% (SW6), 9% (SW9), 12% (SW12), and 15% (SW15) mixtures of both seaweeds powder in equal proportions (1 : 1) for 56 days. There was no improvement in weight gain parameters. Serum lysozyme and peroxidase activities in SW9 and SW12 treatments were significantly higher in compare to other treatments. The highest activities of skin mucus lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and total protease were observed in the SW12. Liver igf-1, il-1β, il-8, and lysozyme expression showed a rising trend up to SW9 and then decreased. Liver antioxidant enzymes activity and glutathione content showed a similar pattern of changes. Liver total antioxidant capacity was highest in the SW9 treatment, while the lowest value of liver malondialdehyde was observed in the 12% seaweed treatment. The amount of total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid, was higher in the SW12 and SW15 treatments in compare to others. Our findings suggest that adding 9%–12% of Gracilaria and Sargassum seaweed powder to the diet improves serum and mucosal immunity, antioxidant status, and fatty acid profile in L. calcarifer juveniles.

Conventional and germinated pearl millet flour (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) improves iron metabolism and antioxidant capacity in Wistar rats

The study evaluated the effect of the consumption of pearl millet whole grain pre-cooked conventional, germinated and extruded flours on iron metabolism and antioxidant capacity in rats. The animals received iron-free standard diet (SD iron-free) for 28 days and subsequently, were separated into 4 groups: ferrous sulfate (SD + FS), conventional millet flour (SD + CM), germinated millet flour (SD + GM), and extruded millet flour (SD + EM), for 21 days. The SD iron free group presented increased ferroportin, hephaestin and ferritin gene expression and MDA concentration compared to the SD + FS group. The SD + GM group increased DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin gene expression. The SD + EM group increased the concentration of transferrin compared to the SD + FS group and serum iron, compared to the other groups, while reducing the liver's total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The SD + CM group increased ferritin expression. All test groups increased the gene expression of DMT1 and hephaestin, as well as serum iron and reduced transferrin, Nrf2 and TNF gene expression, and MDA, NO, SOD and CAT levels in relation to the SD + FS group. In view of this, millet provides promising bioavailability of iron. Besides, germination stands out for improving iron metabolism in relation to extrusion and is similar to conventional millet in antioxidant capacity.

The protective effects of Nigella sativa, thymoquinone and bentonite in experimental aflatoxicosis model in broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the preventive efficacy of black seed (Nigella sativa L.), thymoquinone and Na bentonite on biomarkers of tissue degeneration in the liver and other organs induced by aflatoxin (AF) in broilers. One hundred broiler chicks were divided into 10 equal groups and fed for 28 days. The animals received feed with 2 mg/kg total aflatoxin, Nigella sativa (NS; 5%), thymoquinone (TMQ; 300 mg/kg) and Na bentonite (BNT; 10 g/kg) both individually and in combination. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver tissue samples were collected. AF treatment significantly increased serum and liver 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG), serum transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and liver total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels, whereas it significantly decreased liver TGF-β and serum TAC levels compared to the control. However, there were no changes in the serum and liver hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels from AF. Both individual and combined addition of NS, BNT and TMQ to AF-contaminated feed significantly improved liver 8-OHdG, liver TAC and serum TGF-β levels. Serum 8-OHdG levels were ameliorated only in the AF+BNT+TMQ group. In addition, the AF+BNT+NS and AF+BNT+TMQ groups showed significant improvement in liver 8-OHdG, liver TGF-β and liver TAC levels. We conclude that NS and TMQ supplementation to AF-contaminated feed may be beneficial against aflatoxicosis in broilers.

Effect of Supplementation of Chlorogenic Acid to High-Fat Diet on Growth, Lipid Metabolism, Intestinal and Hepatic Histology, and Gut Microbiota of Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus).

The study investigated the impact of chlorogenic acid (CGA) supplementation in a high-fat diet (HFD) on growth, lipid metabolism, intestinal and hepatic histology, as well as gut microbiota in spotted sea bass. A total of 540 fish were fed six experimental diets, including a normal fat diet (NFD), a high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD supplemented with 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg CGA (named HFD1, HFD2, HFD3, and HFD4, respectively) for 7 weeks. The results showed that HFD feeding increased growth and hepatic lipid deposition compared to that in the NFD group. Inclusion of 300 mg/kg CGA in HFD decreased the HFD-induced hyperlipemia (p < 0.05). Additionally, compared to the HFD group, the HFD4 group showed significant reductions in serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels as well as hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, while also improving liver total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05). In the CGA-containing groups, hepatocytes were arranged more neatly than those in the HFD group, and there was a reduction in lipid deposition and hemolysis in the liver. Supplementation of CGA had effects on intestinal structure including an increase in mucosal thickness, as well as villus number and width. The diversity of intestinal flora in the CGA-containing groups was higher than those in the HFD group, and supplementation of 200 mg/kg CGA significantly increased the abundance of intestinal bacteria (p < 0.05). HFD4 feeding increased the intestinal Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio and decreased the abundance of Vibrio. The highest value abundance of Actinobacteriota was found in the HFD2 group. Overall, HFD caused negative effects, and supplementation of 200-400 mg/kg CGA to HFD improved fat deposition, lipid metabolic disorders and liver and gut histology, and increased gut bacterial diversity in spotted sea bass.

Dietary High Glycinin Reduces Growth Performance and Impairs Liver and Intestinal Health Status of Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the negative effects of dietary glycinin are linked to the structural integrity damage, apoptosis promotion and microbiota alteration in the intestine of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The basal diet (FM diet) was formulated to contain 48% protein and 11% lipid. Fish meal was replaced by soybean meal (SBM) in FM diets to prepare the SBM diet. Two experimental diets were prepared, containing 4.5% and 10% glycinin in the FM diets (G-4.5 and G-10, respectively). Triplicate groups of 20 fish in each tank (initial weight: 8.01 ± 0.10 g) were fed the four diets across an 8 week growth trial period. Fish fed SBM diets had reduced growth rate, hepatosomatic index, liver total antioxidant capacity and GSH-Px activity, but elevated liver MDA content vs. FM diets. The G-4.5 exhibited maximum growth and the G-10 exhibited a comparable growth with that of the FM diet group. The SBM and G-10 diets down-regulated intestinal tight junction function genes (occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1) and intestinal apoptosis genes (caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, bcl-2 and bcl-xL), but elevated blood diamine oxidase activity, D-lactic acid and endotoxin contents related to intestinal mucosal permeability, as well as the number of intestinal apoptosis vs FM diets. The intestinal abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Vibrio in SBM diets were higher than those in groups receiving other diets. As for the expression of intestinal inflammatory factor genes, in SBM and G-10 diets vs. FM diets, pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8) were up-regulated, but anti-inflammatory genes (TGF-β1 and IL-10) were down-regulated. The results indicate that dietary 10% glycinin rather than 4.5% glycinin could decrease hepatic antioxidant ability and destroy both the intestinal microbiota profile and morphological integrity through disrupting the tight junction structure of the intestine, increasing intestinal mucosal permeability and apoptosis. These results further trigger intestinal inflammatory reactions and even enteritis, ultimately leading to the poor growth of fish.

Dietary high β-conglycinin reduces the growth through enhancing hepatic lipid peroxidation and impairing intestinal barrier function of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

β-conglycinin is one of the major soy antigen proteins in soybean meal (SBM) and exhibits growth inhibition and intestinal health damage in grouper, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) was used to investigate whether the poor growth performance induced by dietary β-conglycinin levels is associated with intestinal structural integrity disruption, the intestinal apoptosis and intestinal microbiota. The basal diet (FM diet) was formulated to contained 48% protein and 12% fat without SBM supplementation. Fish meal protein in the FM diet was replaced by SBM to prepare a high SBM diet (SBM diet). β-conglycinin at 3% and 7% were added into FM diets to prepare two diets (B-3 and B-7). Triplicate groups of fish (20 fish/tank) were fed one of the experimental diets twice daily in a feeding period of 8 weeks. Compared with FM diet, fish fed diets SBM and B-7 had decreased the growth rate, hepatosomatic index, whole-body lipid and ash contents, and increased whole-body moisture content. However, the maximum growth was observed for diet B-3 and was not different from that of FM diet. The liver total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity, the muscle layer thickness of middle and distal intestine, and the mucosal fold length of distal intestine were lower, while liver malondialdehyde content, intestinal diamine oxidase activity, d-lactic acid and endotoxin contents, and the number of intestinal apoptosis were higher in SBM and B-7 groups than that in FM and/or B-3 groups. SBM and B-7 diets down-regulated the intestinal expression of tight junction genes (occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1), apoptosis genes (bcl-2 and bcl-xL) and anti-inflammatory factor genes (IκBα, TGF-β1 and IL-10), but up-regulated the intestinal expression of apoptosis genes (caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9) and pro-inflammatory factor genes (NF-κB1, RelA, TAK1, IKK, MyD88, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8) vs FM and/or B-3 diets. The richness and diversity indexes of OTUs, Chao1, ACE, Shannon and Simpson were not affected by dietary treatments. The relative abundances of intestinal bacteria (phylum Proteobacteria and genus Vibrio) were generally higher, and relative abundance of phylum Tenericutes was lower in SBM and/or B-7 groups than that in B-3 group. The above results indicate that high dietary β-conglycinin level, rather than intermediate level could decrease liver antioxidant capacity, reshape the intestinal microbiota, and impair the intestinal normal morphology through disrupting the intestinal tight junction structure, increasing intestinal mucosal permeability, and promoting intestinal apoptosis, which in turn triggers intestinal inflammatory responses and the occurrence of enteritis, and ultimately leads to poor growth performance in fish.

Sex-biased response of pollution biomarkers in fish: Insights from the killifish Poecilia vivipara

Copper ions (Cu) are one of the most frequent trace-contaminants found in Brazilian waters and, although considered as an essential element, in high concentrations can accumulate and induce toxicity. Biomarkers are important tools that can be used to assess these impacts, but to be considered trustworthy, they have to be previously tested in target organisms through laboratory studies under controlled conditions. However, many of these experiments are conducted using only males, as it is believed that the hormonal variation of females can bias the results, increasing data variability. Notwithstanding, few studies have actually tested this hypothesis, highlighting the importance of considering and measuring the role of sex in ecotoxicological studies. The aim this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on biomarkers classically used in environmental monitoring programs using the fish Poecilia vivipara as model. For this, females and males were exposed for 96 h to two Cu concentrations (9 and 20 μg/L) and a control group. In liver and gills, Cu accumulation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were evaluated. In addition, samples of peripheral blood were used for neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio determination, a measure of the onset of secondary stress. Results show that Cu hepatic accumulation did not differ between females and males, but higher levels of this metal were observed in exposed animals compared to control fish. Additionally, interactive effects were observed for hepatic LPO, as males showed elevated oxidative damage in comparison to females. Moreover, Cu exposure elevated hepatic LPO relative to control only in males, but this increase in oxidative damage was not accompanied by changes in liver TAC. On the other hand, differences in branchial Cu accumulation and LPO were not observed. Conversely, control females showed elevated TAC in comparison to control males, but Cu exposure eliminated this difference. Cu exposure also induced an increase in the N:L ratio, indicating the presence of a secondary stress response unrelated to sex. Ultimately, the findings of this study demonstrate that sex can influence the response of biomarkers that are typically used in ecotoxicological investigations in a multifaceted manner. As a result, using animals from a singular sex in such studies may result in consequential outcomes, potentially leading to underestimation or overestimation of results.

The antioxidant effect of Aronia melanocarpa extract in rats oxidative stress induced by cisplatin administration

BackgroundThe reactive oxygen species generated by numerous xenobiotic substances has as consequences the impairment of different organs normal function. Many plants pose antioxidant activity to counteract oxidative stress, among them being the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). The purpose of present study was to determine if the use of A. melanocarpa extract can counteract the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin administration in rats. Material and methodsThe study was made on forty Wistar rats divided in four groups as follows: C (control): receiving i.p. 1 mL of saline solution; E1: receiving cisplatin 20 mg/kg bw, i.p.; E2: receiving cisplatin 20 mg/kg bw, i.p and A. melanocarpa berry 6 % aqueous extract as drinking water, and CB (control blank): i.p 1 mL saline solution and A. melanocarpa 6 % aqueous extract for four weeks. Results. Administration of Cisplatin was followed by the increase of serum superoxide dismutase (+21.18 %, P < 0.05), catalase (+25.44 %, P < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase (+17.88 %, P < 0.05) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (+28.17 %, P < 0.01) but significantly decreased glutathione reductase (−22.35 %, P < 0.001) level comparative to control, pointing out that administration of cisplatin induced oxidative stress in rats. In groups that received A. melanocarpa extract as drinking water, we noted that the levels of the oxidative stress biomarkers tended to be restored almost to normal levels, which could be a possible good antioxidant used in condition to cisplatin use. Also, we noted a significant (P < 0.001) decrease of total antioxidant capacity in liver and kidney of rats exposed to cisplatin, recovered in those that received chokeberry. Studied trace elements important for the stress oxidative enzymes (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) were decreased in cisplatin exposed groups compared to control and mainly all were almost to normal level in groups receiving A. melanocarpa. Conclusion. A. melanocarpa extract due to its antioxidants content could offer protection against free radicals produced as a consequence of cisplatin use.

The protective effect of p-Coumaric acid on hepatic injury caused by particulate matter in the rat and determining the role of long noncoding RNAs MEG3 and HOTAIR.

Increasing air pollution is associated with serious human health problems. P-coumaric acid (PC) is a herbal phenolic compound that exhibits beneficial pharmacological potentials. Here, the protective effect of PC on liver injury induced by air pollution was examined. Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided randomly into four groups (n = 8). The groups were; Control (rats received DMSO and then exposed to clean air), PC (rats received PC and then exposed to clean air), DMSO + Dust (rats received DMSO and then exposed to dust), and PC + Dust (the animals received PC and then exposed to dust). The clean air, DMSO, PC, and dust were administrated 3 days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. The rats were anesthetized and their blood samples and liver sections were taken to conduct molecular, biomedical, and histopathological tests. Dust exposure increased the liver enzymes, bilirubin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and the production of liver malondialdehyde, and decreased in liver total anti-oxidant capacity and serum high-density lipoprotein. It also increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory-related cytokines, decreased the mRNA expression of SIRT-1, decreased the expression levels of miR-20b5p, and MEG3 while increased the expression levels of miR-34a, and HOTAIR. Dust exposure also increased the liver content of three cytokines TNF-α, NF-κB, HMGB-1, and ATG-7 proteins. PC enhanced liver function against adverse effects of dust through recovering almost all the studied variables. Exposure to dust damaged the liver through induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy. PC protected the liver against dust-induced cytotoxicity.

Effects of dietary artemisinin on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal microbiota, antioxidant capacity and immune biomarkers of Coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus)

Artemisinin is an active ingredient extracted from the Chinese medicine Artemisia carvifolia. The experiment investigated the effects of dietary artemisinin on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activity and flora, antioxidant capacity, immune-related gene expression of Coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus). The 450 fish with an initial weight of 9.40 ± 0.04 g were randomly divided into 5 groups of 3 replicates and fed in 500 m3 fiberglass tank for 9 weeks. Five iso-nitrogenous (50% crude protein) and iso-lipidic (10% crude lipid) diets were formulated by supplementing various mass fractions of artemisinin (C0 0% as control; C0.2 0.20%, C0.4 0.40%, C0.8 0.80%, and C1.2 1.20%). The results showed that the C0.2 had the highest weight gain rate (WGR) compared to the others (P < 0.05). The levels of trypsin, amylase and lipase in the fish intestine reached their maximum values at C0.2 (P < 0.05). Compared to C0, feed supplementation with artemisinin significantly enhanced total antioxidant capacity in liver, intestine and serum, increased peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities, and decreased malondialdehyde levels. The results of liver immune gene expression showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), C-type lectin structural domain family 4 member M, myeloid differentiation factor 88 genes were significantly downregulated in the C0.8 group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Analysis of the intestinal flora of C0, C0.2 and C1.2 showed that the supplementation of artemisinin reduced the relative abundance of conditionally pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio). In summary, dietary supplementation with artemisinin improved growth performance, enhanced nonspecific immunity and reduced the relative abundance of harmful flora in intestinal tract of Coral trout. Based on the quadratic regression analysis of WGR and dietary artemisinin levels, the recommended level of artemisinin supplements in the diet of Coral trout is 0.38%.

Effects of Dietary Epidermal Growth Factor Supplementation on Liver Antioxidant Capacity of Piglets with Intrauterine Growth Retardation.

The present experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary epidermal growth factor (EGF) supplementation on the liver antioxidant capacity of piglets with intrauterine growth retar-dation (IUGR). The present study consists of two experiments. In experiment 1, six normal-birth-weight (NBW) and six intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn piglets were slaughtered within 2 to 4h after birth to compare the effects of IUGR on the liver antioxidant capacity of new-born piglets. The results showed that compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets had a lower birth weight and liver relative weight; IUGR piglets had a higher serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level, liver MDA level and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level, and had a lower liver total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity; IUGR trended to increase se-rum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, and H2O2 level, and trended to decrease liver total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In experiment 2, six NBW piglets, and 12 IUGR piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly divided into the NC group (NBW piglets fed with basal diet); IC group (IUGR piglets fed with basal diet), and IE group (IUGR piglets fed with basal diet plus 2mg/kg EGF), and feeding for 14 days. Organ index, serum parameters, liver antioxidant capacity, and liver antioxidant-related genes expression were measured. The results showed that compared to the IC group, dietary EGF supplementation (IE group) significantly reduced serum MDA level and H2O2 level, and liver protein carbonyl (PC) level and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHDG) level of piglets with IUGR; dietary EGF supplementation (IE group) significantly increased serum T-AOC level, liver T-AOC level and GSH-Px activity; dietary supplemented with EGF (IE group) enhanced liver Nrf2, NQO1, HO1, and GPX1 mRNA expression compared to IC group. Pearson's correlation analysis further showed that EGF can alleviate liver oxidative injury caused by IUGR and improve the performance of IUGR piglets. In conclusion, EGF exhibited potent protective effects on IUGR induced liver oxidative injury, by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway to mediate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes and phase II detoxification enzymes (NQO1 and HO1), thereby alleviating liver oxidative damage and promoting the growth performance of IUGR piglets.

The investigation of the effects of postnatal alcohol exposure on molecular content and antioxidant capacity of mice liver tissue

One of the most common causes of fetal alcohol spectrum disease (FASD) characterized with neurodevelopmental disorder and growth retardation, is the postnatal alcohol consumption. Since studies in literature are mainly focused on alcohol-induced effects on brain tissues, the molecular effects of postnatal alcohol consumption on fetal liver are not clarified yet. The aim of this study is to determine the postnatal alcohol consumption-induced structural and compositional changes on liver tissue and the antioxidant capacity of liver. Newborn mice were divided into 3 groups as control group without any treatment, alcohol group treated with 3.0 g/kg of ethanol in 0.02 ml/g of artificially enriched milk between Postnatal Days (PD) 3–20 and intragastric intubation control group which was intragastrically intubated in the same method as the alcohol group but without ethanol/milk. These postnatal days in mice refers prenatal period (third trimester) of gestation in human. The biomolecular changes were determined by ATR-FTIR spectral analysis of the samples, besides the biochemical measurement of total protein content and antioxidant capacity of liver tissue. The result of the current study shows that while there was a slight increase in total lipid content, significant decrease in unsaturated lipid and total protein contents and total antioxidant capacity of liver were observed in alcohol-treated group. Thus, it is concluded that postnatal alcohol treatment causes significant changes in tissue proteins and lipids by inducing lipid peroxidation and changes in protein conformations of the liver tissue. In addition to that alcohol consumption also reduce the antioxidant capacity of liver tissue.

Effects of Dietary Clostridium butyricum on Carcass Traits, Antioxidant Capacity, Meat Quality, and Fatty Acid Composition of Broilers

The demand for identifying substitutes for antioxidant feed additives in broiler production is increasing. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) on carcass traits, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of broiler chickens. A total of 330 one-day-old mixed-sex commercial Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates per group and eleven broilers per replicate and reared for 39 days. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, the AM group was fed a basal diet containing 150 mg aureomycin/kg feed, and the CBL, CBM, and CBH groups were fed a basal diet containing 2 × 108, 4 × 108, and 8 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU) C. butyricum/kg feed. On day 21, compared to the AM group, serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level was enhanced in the CBH group and serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) concentrations were increased in the CBM and CBH groups (p &lt; 0.05). Dietary C. butyricum resulted in the liver T-AOC, T-SOD, and catalase (CAT) of broilers linearly increased at day 21 (p &lt; 0.05). On day 39, supplementation with C. butyricum in broiler diets linearly increased concentrations of T-SOD (p &lt; 0.05), CAT (p &lt; 0.001), but linearly reduced MDA (malondialdehyde) contents (p &lt; 0.001) in the liver. For the breast muscle, the redness for meat color increased in a linear manner and the shearing force decreased in a quadratic manner in response to C. butyricum inclusion (p &lt; 0.05). The pH45min, pH24h, and the shearing force changed in a quadratic pattern (p &lt; 0.05). The contents of total MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) and total PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) were altered and quadratically responded to the doses of C. butyricum (p &lt; 0.05). For the thigh muscle, the inclusion of C. butyricum in broiler diets showed the negative linear effects on the cooking loss and shearing force (p &lt; 0.001). The total MUFA contents were changed linearly and quadratically (p &lt; 0.001; p &lt; 0.05), and the contents of total PUFA and the ratio of PUFA to SFA were quadratically responded to the doses of C. butyricum (p &lt; 0.05). In brief, dietary C. butyricum could beneficially enhance liver antioxidant capacity, and improve meat quality and fatty acid composition in broilers.

An Evaluation of Yeast Culture Supplementation in the Diet of Pseudobagrus ussuriensis: Growth, Antioxidant Activity, Nonspecific Immunity, and Disease Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant activity, nonspecific immunity, and disease resistance of Pseudobagrus ussuriensis (average initial weight6.01±0.01 g). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain 0 (Y0), 10 (Y1), 20 (Y2), and 30 (Y3) g/kg YC, respectively. After the feeding experiment, the challenge test of injecting Aeromonas hydrophila was executed. Results showed that appropriate YC supplementation level in the diet could improve growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, nonspecific immunity capacity, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance of P. ussuriensis. And the highest weight gain, feed intake, specific growth rate, and IGF-1 gene expression level were observed in fish fed the Y2 diet. The activities of protease and amylase in intestine in fish fed the Y2 diet were enhanced compared with that in fish fed the Y0 diet significantly (P&lt;0.05). Simultaneously, fish fed the Y2 diet had significantly higher serum lysozyme activity and significantly lower serum alanine amino transferase activity (P&lt;0.05). Dietary 20 g/kg YC supplementation increased the activity of catalase and total antioxidant capacity in liver and reduced malondialdehyde content in the liver and intestine of P. ussuriensis significantly (P&lt;0.05). Fish fed the Y2 diet had the highest disease resistance under the condition of A. hydrophila challenge (P&lt;0.05). The quadratic regression analysis based on weight gain against dietary YC levels indicated that the appropriate dietary YC supplementation level is 13.4 g/kg diet.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Flour and Oil Ameliorate Metabolic Disorders in the Liver of Rats Fed a High-Fat and High Fructose Diet.

We hypothesized that the consumption of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) flour (CF) and chia oil (CO) improves metabolic disorders in the liver of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica) fed a high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet. The animals were fed a HFHF diet (n = 30) or AIN93-M standard diet (n = 10) for eight weeks. After this period, the animals fed HFHF were divided into three groups (n = 10): HFHF diet, HFHF plus 14.7% of CF, and HFHF plus 4% of CO. Histological and biochemical analyses, gene expression, protein levels related to inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated in the liver. The HFHF diet caused lipogenesis, liver steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the animals. The CF and CO intake increased the liver total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, decreased nitric oxide levels and liver steatosis. Furthermore, the CF and CO led to the upregulation of Cpt1a and Adipor2, respectively, whereas CF downregulated Srebf1. CO intake decreased blood glucose, triglycerides, and the animals’ body weight. Chia did not show effects on mitigating liver pro-inflammatory status, which it may indicate occurs later. The addition of chia into an unbalanced diet is a good and relevant strategy to reduce liver metabolic disorders caused by the high consumption of fructose and saturated fat.

Effect of Dietary Vitamin E on Growth Performance, Immunity and Antioxidant Capacity in Male Jiangnan White Goslings from 1 to 28 d of Age

This experiment aimed to investigate effects of the different dietary levels of vitamin E (VE) on the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant capacity of goslings. A total of 240 1-day-old, male Jiangnan white goslings were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups. Each treatment included five replicates. The basal diet was supplemented with 6 concentrations of VE (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 mg DL-α-tocopherol acetate/kg). The results were as follows: (1) The α-tocopherol content in the serum and liver of goslings increased linearly as supplemental VE increased in diet (p &lt; 0.05). (2) The body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) increased quadratically with increasing dietary VE supplementation (p &lt; 0.05). Dietary VE supplementation could significantly reduce the feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p &lt; 0.05). (3) Dietary supplementation with VE could significantly improve the contents of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the serum of the goslings (p &lt; 0.05). The content of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the serum was significantly reduced with VE supplementation (p &lt; 0.05). (4) Dietary supplementation with VE could significantly improve serum and liver catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and liver total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p &lt; 0.05); Serum and liver MDA contents were significantly reduced with VE supplementation (p &lt; 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with VE could improve growth performance, immunity and antioxidant capacity. Based on broken-line regression analysis, the dietary VE supplementation level for ADG was 12.51 mg/kg, but higher supplementation level should be considered to improve immunity and antioxidant capacity.

Favorable effects of Anethum graveolens on liver oxidative stress and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat models

BackgroundHigh-fat high-cholesterol diet induces a phenotype similar to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in humans. In NAFLD and NASH, cholesterol and bile acid metabolisms are impaired to accumulate lipids and toxic bile acids along with cholestatic hepatic damage. Recently, the use of herbal-derived cholesterol lowering products has attracted much attention as possible therapeutic strategies for NAFLD. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of an Anethum graveolens (dill) on liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and liver fat accumulation in rats. MethodThirty-six rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6) and received normal diet (ND) or a mixture of chow diet+2% cholesterol+0.5% cholic acid + 20% corn oil as high cholesterol/fat (HC–HF) diet (NAFLD model). Animals were also treated daily with dill tablet or dill extract (300 mg/kg). At the end of the 30 days experiments, serum and liver lipid profile and liver total antioxidant capacity were determined. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA and protein expression levels were determined in the liver and histopathological changes in liver tissues were analyzed by microscope. ResultsLipid profiles significantly decreased in dill treated groups (p < 0.05). Liver total antioxidant capacity significantly (p < 0.05) increased and MDA levels markedly (p < 0.05) reduced both in dill tablet and dill extract treated groups (p < 0.05). Both types of treatments caused significant increases in liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase gene expression (p < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that treatment with dill normalized the hypercholesterolemia-induced changes in liver histology. ConclusionAdministration of dill significantly reduced liver fat, oxidative stress and increased cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase enzyme at the both mRNA and protein levels. Dill extract was found more effective than its commercially available tablet.

Impacts of dietary konjac glucomannan supplementation on growth, antioxidant capacity, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammatory response in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) fed a high fat diet

This study examined the effect of konjac glucomannan (KGM) supplementation in diets with different lipid levels on growth, antioxidant capacity, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammatory response in juvenile pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Triplicate groups of fish (12.07 ± 0.21 g) were fed eight experimental diets containing two lipid levels of 9% (basal-fat diet, BFD) and 18% (high-fat diet, HFD), and four levels of KGM (0, 0.5, 1 and 2%) for 60 days. Pompano fed HFD exhibited markedly lower growth and feed efficiency than fish fed BFD, and KGM supplementation, particularly at 1% inclusion, significantly improved growth performance and feed efficiency in fish fed both BFD and HFD. In addition, Pompano fed HFD showed higher whole-body lipid and lower protein contents than fish fed BFD. Irrespective of dietary lipid level, whole body, dorsal and ventral muscle were reduced by dietary KGM supplementation up to 1% while the opposite was found for whole body protein content. Dietary KGM also significantly reduced the HSI, liver lipid contents, as well as lipid droplets in the liver. Supplementation of KGM to both BFD and HFD significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and free fatty acids levels. Furthermore, irrespective of dietary lipid level, increasing dietary KGM supplementation enhanced serum IgM level, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities, and reduced serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. Dietary KGM also increased liver total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and decreased malondialdehyde concentration in fish fed both HFD and BFD. Dietary KGM significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and reduced malondialdehyde concentrations in fish fed BFD, and enhanced serum total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity in fish fed HFD. Supplementation of KGM increased the expression of genes associated with lipid catabolism (pparα, cpt1, hsl) and lipid transport (fabp1, apoB100 and cd36), and decreased the expression of lipid anabolism related genes (srebp1, pparγ, fas and acc). Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-8 were down-regulated, while expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor β1 was increased by KGM supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of KGM at 1% of diet improved growth, feed efficiency, antioxidant capacity, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses in juvenile pompano, and can mitigate excessive deposition of lipid in tissues of farmed fish.

Radical change: temporal patterns of oxidative stress during social ascent in a dominance hierarchy

Dominant individuals have priority access to mates and resources. However, high rank can be costly too, especially when it is maintained by intense agonistic behavior. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a potential cost of social dominance. However, social dominance hierarchies can be dynamic, and few studies have examined the cost of social dominance when males are changing status. We studied temporal changes in markers of oxidative stress during social ascent in the East African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. After removing the dominant male, males ascended from subordinate to dominant status. On the first day of social ascent, immediately after the dominant male removal, the newly dominant male showed lower levels of plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC). However, we found that liver TAC and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzymatic antioxidant, were significantly upregulated on day 1 and 2 of social ascent, respectively. No temporal variation in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH-oxidase) activity, blood DNA damage, and liver DNA damage was observed. By day 14, all markers of oxidative stress were similar to those observed in stable dominant males, which had higher levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) compared to subordinate males. We conclude that markers of oxidative stress vary dramatically during social ascent in a time- and tissue-dependent manner. Our study provides a more nuanced look at the oxidative cost of social dominance and highlights the importance of considering temporal changes in markers of oxidative stress during important life-history events. High social status gives priority access to resources but also entails costs. Since dominant individuals tend to have higher metabolic rates, oxidative stress could be a potential cost of high social status. Oxidative stress can occur when reactive oxygen species, produced during metabolic activities, cannot be effectively neutralized by antioxidants, leading to oxidative cellular damage. Social hierarchies can be dynamic, yet how the cost of rank varies when males are changing social status is unknown. We allowed subordinate males to ascend to dominant status in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. At the beginning of social ascent when males suddenly increase aggressive behavior, the total antioxidant defense was lower in blood plasma, as expected, when males suddenly increase their metabolism during aggressive interactions. However, antioxidant defense was increased in the liver suggesting that males can compensate for the potential cost of becoming dominant. Circulating reactive oxygen metabolites gradually increased over time reaching levels similar to stable dominant males, possibly due to males upregulating their reproductive axis. Our results highlight that markers of oxidative stress can vary dramatically over time during important events in life.