Animal Organism Research Articles

Selenium alleviates pancreatic fibrosis in chickens caused by mercuric chloride: Involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway and selenoproteins

Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) is a widespread inorganic mercury with digestive toxicity. The pancreas is an important digestive organ in animals, and pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is a major pathological feature of chronic pancreatitis, which can be caused by heavy metals. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for the animal organism, performing biological functions in the form of selenoproteins, as well as alleviating the toxicity of heavy metals. In this study, we explored the specific mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Se on HgCl2-induced pancreatic injury in chickens. Morphological observation and serum biochemical analysis showed that Se attenuated HgCl2-caused pancreatic tissue damage and elevated glucose concentration and α-amylase activity. Next, the expression of oxidative stress indicators such as MDA and GSH-Px as well as inflammation-related markers including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were detected. Results showed that Se had an inhibitory effect on HgCl2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, we found that Se alleviated HgCl2-induced PF by detecting the expression of markers related to PF including TGF-β1, α-SMA, COL1A1, and FN1. Mechanistically, Se attenuated HgCl2-induced PF via the MAPK signaling pathway. Importantly, several selenoproteins, especially those with antioxidant activity, were involved in the protective effect of Se on HgCl2 toxicity. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that Se inhibited HgCl2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation and alleviated chicken PF through the MAPK signaling pathway, in which some antioxidant selenoproteins were involved.

Evaluation of some toxicological parameters of Oxantel-, Pyrantel- and Praziquantel-based anthelmintic in tablet formulation for dogs and cats

The purpose of the research is to evaluate some toxicological parameters of a new combined anthelmintic based on oxantel pamoate, pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel in tablet formulation for dogs and cats.Materials and methods. The studies used 70 outbred male rats and 50 outbred male mice. Acute oral toxicity was studied in male mice and male rats weighing 14–16 and 160–180 g, respectively. The subchronic toxicity study with the drug administered repeatedly, orally for 14 days was conducted on male rats weighing 180–200 g. The study monitored the laboratory animals’ overall health status, behavior and possible death, and any intoxication symptoms were recorded. All studies were performed using conventional techniques for experimental (preclinical) studies of new pharmacological substances using the guidelines edited by R. U. Khabriev (2005) and A. I. Mironov et al. (2012). Additionally, the experiments assessed clinical toxicological, biochemical, and morphological parameters of the laboratory animals.Results and discussion. In evaluation of the drug acute toxicity in the male mice and the female rats, the LD50 exceeded the dose of 6000 mg/kg; the animals showed no signs of intoxication during the entire study. Thus, the drug was classified as substance hazard category 4. Doses 600, 300 and 120 mg/kg of the drug had no negative effect on the organism of the laboratory animals in the subchronic experiment on the male rats; the doses were ineffective (safe). The threshold or toxic dose could not be determined.

The Set of Serine Peptidases of the Tenebrio molitor Beetle: Transcriptomic Analysis on Different Developmental Stages.

Serine peptidases (SPs) of the chymotrypsin S1A subfamily are an extensive group of enzymes found in all animal organisms, including insects. Here, we provide analysis of SPs in the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor transcriptomes and genomes datasets and profile their expression patterns at various stages of ontogeny. A total of 269 SPs were identified, including 137 with conserved catalytic triad residues, while 125 others lacking conservation were proposed as non-active serine peptidase homologs (SPHs). Seven deduced sequences exhibit a complex domain organization with two or three peptidase units (domains), predicted both as active or non-active. The largest group of 84 SPs and 102 SPHs had no regulatory domains in the propeptide, and the majority of them were expressed only in the feeding life stages, larvae and adults, presumably playing an important role in digestion. The remaining 53 SPs and 23 SPHs had different regulatory domains, showed constitutive or upregulated expression at eggs or/and pupae stages, participating in regulation of various physiological processes. The majority of polypeptidases were mainly expressed at the pupal and adult stages. The data obtained expand our knowledge on SPs/SPHs and provide the basis for further studies of the functions of proteins from the S1A subfamily in T. molitor.

Risk meters and markers of accelerated aging

The purpose of the study is to analyze scientific research on the establishment of risk meters and markers of aging, in order to take a set of measures to prevent accelerated aging and the development of occupational diseases in the working population, including using models on laboratory animals. Material and methods: analytical, toxicological, hygienic and statistical research methods. The object of the study was the results of our own original research on the influence of environmental factors (vibration, noise, 4-component mixture of hydrocarbons) on the organisms of model animals, as well as published research material on the establishment of risk meters and markers of aging. The results and their discussion. The study determined a direct relationship between gender, age and duration of exposure to environmental factors on model organisms exposed to 90-day exposure to occupational hazards, which made it possible to establish risk meters and markers of premature aging in animals of experimental groups, compared with the control group. The results obtained experimentally will contribute to the adoption of measures to protect the health of the labor contingent. Conclusion. The leading role of timely adoption of a set of health-saving measures to prevent the development of occupational diseases in the labor contingent is determined, based on established risk meters and markers of accelerated aging using organisms of model animals.

COLD INHIBITION OF BIOACTIVITY OF PROBIOTIC MYCOBACTERIA AND AEROCOCCI IN THE MICROBIOME

The organism of farm animals is constantly under the influence of various factors of the external environment, and one of the negative factors of violation of the technology of keeping and creation of unsatisfactory conditions of existence with deterioration of well-being is cold injury. Mostly it manifests itself as a permanent effect of positive temperatures well below the physiological norm or periodic fluctuations of an uncomfortable temperature. Such a stress factor of low intensity, but permanent over a long period of time, causes negative pathophysiological changes in the macroorganism with the development of immune-depression, metabolic syndrome, perversions of the qualitative composition of the microbiome and, as a result, disruption of native physiological processes of stimulation of cellular mechanisms of nonspecific innate immunity, induced by immune-biological mechanisms of the functioning of neutrophil granulocytes. The negative effect of low-intensity permanent cold stress was studied on a model object - murchakаs, which were kept for two weeks at a temperature of 4-6 °C under conditions of light and movement restriction. Before the start of the experiment, initial microbiological studies of the microbiome of the large intestine were conducted using generally accepted methods. Resident indigenous probiotic prokaryotes - M. vaccae & A. viridans, which possessed typical species characteristics, were isolated. Pathogenic variants of enterobacteria were not isolated, isolated cultures of E. coli were apathogenic and belonged to the usual normal flora. A two-week cold injury resulted in the disappearance of the indigenous probiotic microbiota M. vaccae & A. viridans, which are indicator prokaryotes of the physiological well-being of the macroorganism, from the microbiome. At the same time, the number of potentially pathogenic enteral microorganisms, coccal and rod-shaped, increased. This was correlated with a decrease in the phagocytic activity of native neutrophil granulocytes and their preformed filamentous spatial nucleoprotective mesh structures, which inhibit the de-fragmentary function in relation to genetically non-syngenic objects.

Effect of Flavonols of Aronia melanocarpa Fruits on Morphofunctional State of Immunocompetent Organs of Rats under Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression.

Aronia melanocarpa berries contain many compounds with potential benefits for human health. The food flavonoids quercetin and rutin, found in significant amounts in the fruits of A. melanocarpa, are known to have favourable effects on animal and human organisms. However, data on the effect of flavonols isolated from black chokeberry on immune functions during immunosuppression are not available in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of flavonol fraction isolated from A. melanocarpa fruits, in comparison with pure quercetin and rutin substances, on the dysfunctional state of rat thymus and spleen in immunodeficiency. The study was performed on Wistar rats. The animals were orally administered solutions of the investigated substances for 7 days: water, a mixture of quercetin and rutin and flavonol fraction of A. melanocarpa. For induction of immunosuppression, the animals were injected once intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide. Substance administration was then continued for another 7 days. The results showed that under the influence of flavonols, there was a decrease in cyclophosphamide-mediated reaction of lipid peroxidation enhancement and stimulation of proliferation of lymphocytes of thymus and spleen in rats. At that, the effect of the flavonol fraction of aronia was more pronounced.

An additional record of hematophagy by the Yellow-headed Caracara Daptrius chimachima on a domestic horse from Venezuela

Hematophagy is a practice in which animal organisms feed on blood. Among birds, few species are known to practice it, including rapacious birds such as Caracaras. Here, an hematophagy event by a Yellow-headed Caracara on a wounded domestic horse from northern Venezuela is described, taking notes about the visit frequency, number of visitors, the horse’s interaction with the caracara, the blood consumption type (direct, indirect), and hematophagy tactics (active or passive). Over six continuous days, once a day, a Yellow-headed Caracara arrived on the back of a wounded domestic horse between 08:00–10:00 h and perched without any negative response from the quadruped. After arriving, the bird remained motionless for a few minutes and then approached the open wound. After sucking blood for about 4–7 minutes, the bird of prey inspected the rest of the animal for ectoparasites and then it left the area for the rest of the day. Once, an adult and a juvenile Yellow-headed Caracaras visited the horse to feed on blood together. This is the first report of hematophagy for the Yellow-headed Caracara in Venezuela. My observations suggest that the Yellow-crested Caracara is a passive hematophagous bird, and direct hematophagy in this species occurs because its opportunistic behavior is stimulated by wounds made accidentally or by other active hematophagous animals such as Vampire Bats.

Levels and health risk assessment of twenty-one current-use pesticides in urban and riverside waters of the Brazilian Amazon Basin

In Brazil, the favorable weather conditions and abundant land contribute to the thriving agricultural production. Brazilian crops extensively employ pesticides due to their high efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and permissive regulatory framework. However, pesticide use also endangers water resources, animal organisms, and human health. Due to the lack of data on pesticide use in the Amazonas forest-based Brazil, the present study aimed to assess the levels of twenty-one current-use pesticides (CUPs) from five different classes in river waters collected from urban and riverside areas in this region. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with water consumption were also characterized. Thirteen CUPs were detected in concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD) in at least one of the water samples, and most pesticides were detected in riverside areas. In contrast, only 18% of the analyzed samples were considered “clean,” with only one compound detected. Fenitrothion showed the highest concentration, with a mean value of 4.86 ng/mL (0.30–14.3 ng/mL). Up to 33% of the samples showed levels of fipronil above the LOD, an issue of environmental and human health concern, mainly because of the adverse effects observed in honeybees. Despite this, the human health risk assessment showed a target hazard quotient below one (HQ < 1) in adults for all substances, suggesting that pesticide exposure through water consumption should not mean risk for the riverside populations. Taking into account the large extension of Brazil, as well as its different agricultural practices throughout the country, it would be of great importance to conduct extensive research in other areas. It would help to gain knowledge in this field and to promote eco-friendly alternatives to mitigate pesticide use and, consequently, to reduce their potential adverse effects on human health and the ecosystems.

Розповсюдженість, властивості та практичне значення α-галактозидази

The achievements of modern enzymology have greatly expanded the possibilities of practical use of enzymes, primarily in medicine and the food industry, which is due to their advantages over chemical catalysts: selectivity and stereospecificity of action, the possibility of achieving high rates of conversion of substrates under relatively mild technological conditions, harmlessness to the environment and humans. The microbial producers have proven themselves as a convenient and economical source of biotechnologically important enzyme preparations of hydrolytic action. One of such enzymes is α-galactosidase, which has the ability to cleave terminal α-linked galactosyl residues from a wide range of natural and synthetic compounds. The review presents data on the spread of the enzyme among different groups of microorganisms and provides a comparative description of their catalytic properties. A range of issues related to the physiological role of the enzyme in plant and animal organisms, localization and functional properties in bacteria and fungi are outlined. The place of α-galactosidase of microorganisms in the modern hierarchical classification of glycosidases is shown. The areas of possible use of the enzyme as an efficient tool for the modification of oligo- and polysaccharides in various industries are described.

Transitivity and agency in Richard Jefferies’s rural essays: an ecostylistic analysis

Abstract This essay aims to provide an ecostylistic analysis of transitivity and agency in selected extracts from Richard Jefferies’s late nineteenth-century rural essays, which were collected in his so-called country books. Jefferies’s portrayal of the interconnection between humans and the natural environment has been variously described as “pantheistic”, a “pantheist revery”, or an “ecstatic communion”. The present study proposes to validate these claims by showing that Jefferies’s essays utilise patterns of transitivity to depict manifold relationships between human and non-human agents in placid landscape descriptions. These can be regarded as positive discourse praising the rural environment and humans’ entanglement with other animal and vegetable organisms. An in-depth scrutiny of the linguistic patterns of Jefferies’s texts, corroborated by the theoretical and methodological framework of (eco)stylistics and related disciplines (i.e. Systemic Functional Grammar), offers useful insights into the author’s ecosophy and holistic understanding of the human and non-human world. By conceptualising the various constitutive elements of the physical environment as active/agentive participants in particular types of processes, Jefferies gives special prominence to ecocentric, rather than anthropocentric positions.

Evolution of cancer resistance in the animal kingdom

Cancer is an inevitable collateral problem inherent in the evolution of multicellular organisms, which appeared at the end of the Precambrian. Faced to this constraint, a range of diverse anticancer defenses has evolved across the animal kingdom. Today, investigating how animal organisms, especially those of large size and long lifespan, manage cancer-related issues has both fundamental and applied outcomes, as it could inspire strategies for preventing or treating human cancers. In this article, we begin by presenting the conceptual framework for understanding evolutionary theories regarding the development of anti-cancer defenses. We then present a number of examples that have been extensively studied in recent years, including naked mole rats, elephants, whales, placozoa, xenarthras (such as sloths, armadillos and anteaters) and bats. The contributions of comparative genomics to understanding evolutionary convergences are also discussed. Finally, we emphasize that natural selection has also favored anti-cancer adaptations aimed at avoiding mutagenic environments, for example by maximizing immediate reproductive efforts in the event of cancer. Exploring these adaptive solutions holds promise for identifying novel approaches to improve human health.

Recent Advances in Biomass Waste Derived Carbon Materials for Supercapacitors: A Review

As the core component of supercapacitors (SCs), the electrode material plays a decisive role in performance. Among electrode materials, carbon materials are the most widely used due to high porosity and specific surface area (SSA, 1000–3000 m2 g−1). Biomass carbon stands out in carbon materials because of its wide source, low cost, and less pollution. This work reviews the recent advances on carbon materials derived from biomass waste for SCs and explores the effects of different biomass sources including plant, animal, and aquatic organism waste on the performance of biomass waste‐derived carbon materials (BWDCs). Because of its high conductivity (1.25 × 103 ≈ 3 × 105 S m−1), power density (&gt;10 kW kg−1), and extended cycle life (&gt;10 000 cycles), BWDCs are advancing quickly in energy storage. It also discusses different methods and optimization pathways of BWDCs thoroughly. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for BWDCs are summarized. Overall, this critical will help researchers to gain a better understanding of source selection, structural classification, and research strategies for BWDCs, thereby promoting the application of BWDCs in electrochemistry and resource utilization.

O-GlcNAcylation regulates long-chain fatty acid metabolism by inhibiting ACOX1 ubiquitination-dependent degradation

BackgroundCold as a common environmental stress, causes increased heat production, accelerated metabolism and even affects its production performance. How to improve the adaptability of the animal organism to cold has been an urgent problem. As a key hub of lipid metabolism, the liver can regulate lipid metabolism to maintain energy balance, and O-GlcNAcylation is a kind of important PTMs, which participates in a variety of signaling and mechanism regulation, and at the same time, is very sensitive to changes in stress and nutritional levels, and is the body's “stress receptors” and “nutrient receptors”. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of cold-induced O-GlcNAcylation on hepatic lipid metabolism, and to explore the potential connection between O-GlcNAcylation and hepatic lipid metabolism. MethodsTo investigate the loss of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) and the precise impacts of additional cold-induced circumstances on liver mass, shape, and metabolic profile, C57 mice were used as an animal model. Using the protein interactions approach, the mechanism of O-GlcNAcylation, as well as the degradation pathway of acyl-Coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1), were clarified. Additional in vitro analyses of oleic acid (OA) and OGT inhibitor tetraoxan (Alloxan) (Sigma, 2244-11-3) on lipid breakdown in AML-12 cells. ResultsIn C57BL/6 mice, deletion of O-GlcNAcylation disrupted lipid metabolism, caused hepatic edema and fibrosis, and altered mitochondrial apoptosis. This group of modifications was made worse by cold induction. The accumulation of medium- and long-chain fatty acids is a hallmark of lipolysis, which is accelerated by the deletion of O-GlcNAcylation, whereas lipid synthesis is slowed down. The association between ACOX1 and OGT at the K48 gene precludes ubiquitinated degradation.

The influence of water quality in the Western biogeochemical zone of Ukraine on the organisms of farm animals

The influence of water quality in the Western biogeochemical zone of Ukraine on the organisms of farm animals

Данные об устойчивости серых крыс, обитающих в жилом секторе, к антикоагулянтам 2-го поколения

The chemical method of deratisation is the main means of regulating the numbers of synanthropic rodents. Low efficiency of deratisation measures can be related both to resistance of rats and mice to blood anticoagulants and to low attractiveness of baits. Thus, low eatability of baits entails insufficient cumulation of poison and, as a consequence, insufficient toxic effect on the animal organism. This paper describes the results of experiments to study the degree of sensitivity of grey rat individuals to the second generation anticoagulants bromadiolone and brodifacoum, most commonly used in deratisation practice. Sensitivity was determined by direct injection of anticoagulant solutions in neutral solvent into the stomach. The mean lethal concentration calculated by Hill’s equation for a single gastric administration was 0.35 mg/kg for bromadialone and 0.182 mg/kg for brodifacoum. The data obtained can be used in calculating the required amount of bait that must be eaten by the rodent to achieve lethality. Keywords: synanthropic rodents, grey rat, deratisation measures, anticoagulants, bromadiolone, brodifacoum.

Особливості епізоотологічного нагляду та контролю за мікобактеріозами продуктивних тварин в умовах молочнотоварних господарств України

The increase in mycobacteriosis, an infectious disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis, has become an urgent issue for humane medicine. The mycobacteriosis of animals is a subject of intense study by veterinary scientists across most countries globally. In Ukraine, the number of farms with productive animals exhibiting paraallergic reactions to tuberculin is steadily rising, making the diagnosis of tuberculosis more complicated. In dairy cattle breeding, this issue also has significant economic implications. The forced slaughter of breeding young stock and high-producing cows is often a consequence. On the other hand, the identification of various non-tuberculous mycobacteria species in human mycobacteriosis patients, which can sensitize the cows, gives the issue of preventing animal mycobacteriosis both medical and social significance. All of the factors mentioned previously led to the decision to permanently retain cows that react positively to tuberculin testing on a dairy farm in the Volyn region, which has historically been free of tuberculosis. A comprehensive study was conducted from 2018 to 2023, utilizing methods of epizootological analysis as well as clinical, pathological, histological, bacteriological, and statistical research techniques. It was shown that an epizootic process, caused by the infection of cattle with non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, is occurring on the dairy farm. Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, M. fortuitum, and Nocardia spp. were isolated and identified from the lymph nodes and lymphoid tissue of the large intestine submucosa in the infected animals. These pathogens cause significant histological and pathological changes, indicating the presence of a clinically covert infectious process accompanied by sensitization of the animal organism. Epizootological analysis of the results from simultaneous allergic testing, as well as multiple bacteriological studies of samples from animals that reacted positively to both purified protein derivate tuberculin and atypical mycobacteria allergens, established that the allergic reactions to tuberculin were paraallergic in nature. This indicated the presence of an active infectious process within the animals’ bodies.

Effects of two pharmaceuticals: Doxycycline and norfloxacin on plant and animal organisms living in the freshwater

The main reason for the appearance of pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic environment is their regular excretion by humans and animals in an unchanged form or slightly metabolized. Pharmaceuticals limit the habitable living environment for aquatic organisms, because they can be toxic not only to bacteria but also to non-target organisms. Plants of the Lemnoideae subfamily and crustaceans Daphniindae family are widely used as bioindicators in freshwater environmental risk assessments. This study aimed to use biotests (Lemna test and Daphtoxkit) to determine the effect of two pharmaceuticals: antibiotic – Doxycycline (DOX) and semi-synthetic chemotherapeutic drug – Norfloxacin (NOR) on plants Lemna minor and crustaceans Daphnia magna. Standard Lemna test was extended to include pharmaceutical effects on plant chlorophyll content (LCC) and fluorescence (Fo, Fm, and Fv/Fm), and the confirmation of drug toxicity was the biotest Daphtoxkit assessing the immobilization (IM) of organisms. Studies have shown that DOX was more toxic than NOR on tested aquatic organisms: plants and crustaceans. The lowest observed effect concentration (EC20) of DOX and NOR reduced by 20 % LCC and Iy of L. minor was 2.14 and 8.11 mg × L−1, respectively. The LCC was an early and sensitive indicator of the phytotoxic effects of DOX in L. minor before morphological changes were observed. Confirmation of drug toxicity was the Daphtoxkit. The EC20 (180. min) of DOX and NOR, IM of daphnia by 20 % was 117.18 and 215.42 mg × L−1, respectively. In conclusion, DOX and NOR in aquatic environments may have significant implications for tested organisms and their ecosystems.

Features of chemical elements migration in natural waters and their deposition in the form of neocrystallisations in living organisms (physico-chemical modeling with animal testing)

Relevance. An original modeling method is presented, which allows obtaining qualitatively new results in practice of ecological-geochemical and biomedical research. Aim. To obtain new data on the forms of element migration in the conditions of animal and human organism parameters by means of physicochemical modeling (PC "Selector") with verification of calculated data with the results obtained for real natural objects and animal organisms. Objects. Samples of natural waters and tissues of wild animals. Methods. Computer modeling (PC "Selector"); inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, Agilent 7700x spectrometer) – 55 elements; atomic emission spectrometry (AES, spectrometer iCAP 7600 Duo) –- 5 macrocations; ion chromatography (IC, ion-liquid chromatograph LC-20) – 6 anions; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, mass spectrometer NexION 300D; scanning electron microscopes Hitachi S-3400N with Bruker X@Flash 5010 energy dispersive spectrometer. Results. By means of modeling, the authors have determined the qualitative and quantitative composition of the system "solution – crystalline substance". They took into account environmental conditions and physiological parameters of animal and human organism. Natural drinking water, gastric juice, mixture of drinking water and gastric juice were used as a solution, and crystalline substance was used as newly formed mineral phases in equilibrium with the solution. The work allowed establishing that the complexes assumed in the model experiment can be the cause of appearance of nanomineral phases of chemical elements in separate tissues of a living organism.

Influence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic on selected active substances in the intramural neurons of the porcine duodenum

BackgroundCurrently, society and industry generate huge amounts of plastics worldwide. The ubiquity of microplastics is obvious, but its impact on the animal and human organism remains not fully understood. The digestive tract is one of the first barriers between pathogens and xenobiotics and a living organism. Its proper functioning is extremely important in order to maintain homeostasis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of microplastic on enteric nervous system and histological structure of swine duodenum. The experiment was carried out on 15 sexually immature gilts, approximately 8 weeks old. The animals were randomly divided into 3 study groups (n = 5/group). The control group received empty gelatin capsules once a day for 28 days, the first research group received daily gelatin capsules with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles as a mixture of particles of various sizes (maximum particle size 300 µm) at a dose of 0.1 g/animal/day. The second study group received a dose ten times higher—1 g/animal/day.ResultsA dose of 1 g/day/animal causes more changes in the enteric nervous system and in the histological structure of duodenum. Statistically significant differences in the expression of cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript, galanin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, substance P, vesicular acetylcholine transporter and vasoactive intestinal peptide between control and high dose group was noted. The histopathological changes were more frequently observed in the pigs receiving higher dose of PET.ConclusionBased on this study it may be assumed, that oral intake of microplastic might have potential negative influence on digestive tract, but it is dose-dependent.

Responses of animals and plants to physiological doses of ethanol: a molecular messenger of hypoxia?

Our viewpoint is that ethanol could act as a molecular messenger in animal and plant organisms under conditions of hypoxia or other stresses and could elicit physiological responses to such conditions. There is evidence that both animal and plant organisms have endogenous levels of ethanol, but reports on the changes induced by this alcohol at physiological levels are sparse. Studies have shown that ethanol has different effects on cell metabolism at low and high concentrations, resembling a hormetic response. Further studies have addressed the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms used by organisms to sense changes in physiological concentrations of ethanol. This article summarizes the possible mechanisms by which ethanol may be sensed, particularly at the cell membrane level. Our analysis shows that current knowledge on this subject is limited. More research is required on the effects of ethanol at very low doses, in plants and animals at both molecular and physiological levels. We believe that further research on this topic could lead to new discoveries in physiology and may even help us understand metabolic adjustments related to climate change. As temperatures rise more frequently, dissolved oxygen levels drop, leading to hypoxic conditions and consequently, an increase in cellular ethanol levels.