Serum Antioxidant Enzyme Activities Research Articles

Enhancing Endothelial Function with Nutrient-Enriched Table Hen Eggs: A Randomized Study in Patients Recovering from Acute Coronary Syndrome.

This study investigated the effect of consumption of table eggs enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), lutein, vitamin E and selenium on microvascular function, oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In a prospective, randomized, interventional, double-blind clinical trial, ACS patients were assigned to either the Nutri4 (N=15, mean age: 57.2±9.2 years), or the Control group (N=13; mean age 56.8±9.6 years). The Nutri4 group consumed three enriched hen eggs daily for three weeks, providing approximately 1.785 mg of vitamin E, 0.330 mg of lutein, 0.054 mg of selenium and 438 mg of n-3 PUFAs. Biochemical parameters, including serum lipids, liver enzymes, nutrient concentrations, serum antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)), and markers of oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reducing ability (FRAP)), were assessed before and after the dietary interventions. Additionally, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, body composition, fluid status, anthropometric measurements, and skin microvascular blood flow responses to various stimuli (postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH), acetylcholine- (AchID), and sodium nitroprusside- (SNPID)) were measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) throughout the study. The intake of Nutri4 eggs led to a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol levels, while the levels of total cholesterol remained within the established reference values. Consuming Nutri4 eggs resulted in a 12.7% increase in serum vitamin E levels, an 8.6% increase in selenium levels, and demonstrated a favorable impact on microvascular reactivity, as evidenced by markedly improved PORH and ACh ID. Nutri4 eggs exerted a significant influence on the activity of GPx and SOD, with no observed changes in TBARS or FRAP values. The consumption of Nutri4 eggs positively influenced microvascular function in individuals with ACS, without eliciting adverse effects on oxidative stress.

Glycyrrhiza Extract and Curcumin Alleviates the Toxicity of Cadmium via Improving the Antioxidant and Immune Functions of Black Goats.

To investigate the mitigative effects of glycyrrhiza extract (GE) and curcumin (CUR) on the antioxidant and immune functions of the Guizhou black goat exposed to cadmium (Cd), 50 healthy Guizhou black goats (11.08 ± 0.22 kg, male, six months old) were used in a 60-day trial and were randomly assigned to five groups with 10 replicates per group, one goat per replicate. All goats were fed a basal diet, with drinking water and additives varying slightly between groups. Control group: tap water (0.56 μg·L-1 Cd); Cd group: drinking water containing Cd (20 mg Cd·kg-1·body weight, CdCl2·2.5H2O); GE group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 GE; CUR group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 CUR; combined group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 GE and CUR. Compared with the Cd group, GE and CUR significantly increased the levels of hemoglobin and red blood cell count in the blood, and the activities of serum antioxidant enzyme activity and immune function in the Guizhou black goat (p < 0.05). The treatment effect in the combined group was better than that in the GE and CUR groups. The results showed that GE and CUR improved the antioxidant and immune functions of the serum and livers of the Guizhou black goat and alleviated the toxicity damage of Cd contamination. This research has positive implications for both livestock management and human health.

Effect of dietary heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VSG3 on growth, immunity, antioxidant status, and immune-related gene expression in pathogen-aggravated Cyprinus carpio

Heat-killed probiotics offer an alternative approach to enhance growth and disease resistance in farmed fish. In this study, we isolated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VSG3 from the gut of Labeo rohita to investigate the effects of heat-killed L. plantarum (HK-LP) on the health and growth performance of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. Different concentrations of HK-LP (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) were administered to the fish, followed by a challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila after 8 weeks of feeding. Notably, the LP200 group exhibited significantly improved percentage weight gain and specific growth rate, accompanied by the lowest feed conversion ratio. Post-challenge survival rates were considerably enhanced in the LP200 group, reaching 60.65%. Moreover, serum analysis indicated significantly higher levels of total protein and albumin in the LP200 group than in the control group. Although HK-LP had no substantial impact on certain serum parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, cortisol, and alanine aminotransferase), aspartate aminotransferase levels were considerably low in the LP200 group. Intestinal protease and trypsin activities significantly increased in the LP200 group, while no significant changes were observed in lipase and amylase activities post-pathogen challenge. Serum immunological indices, including lysozyme, alternative complement pathway, and phagocytic activity, improved considerably in the LP200 group. Additionally, serum antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase [CAT], and myeloperoxidase) were significantly elevated in the LP200 group, while malondialdehyde level was reduced. Gene expression analysis in liver tissue indicated strong upregulation of antioxidant-related genes (SOD, CAT, nuclear factor erythroid 2 [NFE2]-related factor 2 [Nrf2], Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1[Keap1]) in the LP100 and LP200 groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were considerably downregulated in the kidneys of the LP200 post-challenged fish, although the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 showed an increased expression. Quadratic regression analysis identified the optimal dietary HK-LP level for maximizing growth and immune performance (200.381–270.003 mg/kg). In summary, our findings underscore the potential of HK-LP as a valuable dietary supplement for enhancing carp aquaculture, particularly at the appropriate concentration.

Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective potential and Antioxidant activity of 4–Hydroxybenzyl alcohol on Carbon tetrachloride Induced liver damage in Experimental animals

Objective: To study the Hepatoprotective potential and Antioxidant activity of 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into five groups of six animals. Group I was treated with normal saline (Normal control) Group II was treated with the CCl4 hepatotoxic (negative control) Group III was treated with standard drug silymarin (positive control) and Group IV and V was treated with test drug 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol (Test groups) respectively. On the 7th day, rats were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture. The levels and activities of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes were then assayed using standard procedures. Results: The hepatoprotective activity of 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol in this study was compared with the reference drug silymarin. In CCl4 treated animals, 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol significantly decreased levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, and increased the level of total protein. Treatment with 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol resulted in a significant increase in the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione as compared to CCl4 treated group. Histopathology of the liver tissue further supports the biochemical findings confirming the hepatoprotective potential of 4 – hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Conclusions: From the results it can be concluded that 4–hydroxybenzyl alcohol possesses Hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant activity against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats.

Effects of exposing Japanese quail eggs to a low dose of gamma radiation and in ovo feeding by two sources of trace elements on embryonic development activities

The present study investigated the influence of exposing quail eggs to low-dose gamma radiation (GR) and in ovo feeding with 2 sources of a mixture of trace elements (Zn, Fe, and Cu), including sulfate (TES) and loaded with montmorillonite (TEM), on embryonic development activities and prehatch quality. A total of 960 eggs on the seventh day of incubation were randomly divided into 6 groups (160 eggs/group) with 4 replicate of 40 eggs in each. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment was performed and included 3 sources in ovo feeding with a mixture of trace elements (Zn, Fe, and Cu), including 0 mg/egg, 50 mg TES/egg, and 50 mg TEM/egg with egg irradiation using 0 and 0.2 Gy from GR. Eggs injected with 50 mg TEM/egg and exposed to 0.2 Gy from GR (TEM/GR) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05 and 0.01) higher in hatchability, hatch body weight, and relative organ weight (liver, gizzard, proventriculus, heart, and intestine). The obtained results indicated significant (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in the serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in TEM/GR group. There was significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased of catalase (CAT) activity and the concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in TEM/GR group; however; total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased in CT/GR group. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM) (P ≤ 0.05) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were increased in the TEM/CR group; the concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased in the TEM/GR group; and interleukins (IL6 and IL10) showed no significant differences among the groups. Our results showed increase in thyroxine and myostatin concentrations with TES/CR and CT/GR of our study groups, respectively. The relative mRNA expression levels of the GH, IGF-1, and Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS) genes were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 and 0.01) upregulated in the liver tissue of the TEM/GR group compared with the other groups. In conclusion, TEM/GR was the best treatment for improving prehatch quality, increasing serum antioxidant enzyme activities, and promoting the expression of growth and immune genes in fertilized quail eggs.

Physiological and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal the Regulation Mechanism Underlying the Muscle Quality Effect of Dietary Schisandra chinensis in Triploid Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus).

Schisandra chinensis (sc) is generally demonstrated to improve antioxidant and immune functions in mammal. The present study through physiological and transcriptome analysis revealed alterations in muscle metabolisms of triploid crucian carp (Carassius auratus) cultured at different concentrations of S. chinensis diets (sc0, sc0.125%, sc0.25%, sc0.5%, sc1%, sc2%) after 8weeks. The serum antioxidant enzyme activities analysis showed that dietary S. chinensis could reduce oxidative stress and increase organismic antioxidant capacity. Meanwhile, the detected results of muscle components presented that the amino acids and two flavor nucleotides of GMP and IMP significantly elevated while muscle crude lipid significantly reduced in S. chinensis feeding groups. In addition, springiness, chewiness, and fiber density in S. chinensis feeding groups muscle were significantly upregulated while muscle fiber diameter and area showed an opposite trend. By comparative transcriptome analysis of the muscles, functional enrichments of differentially expressed genes showed that multiple terms were related to purine metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and peroxisome. Finally, some key hub genes such as egln, gst, ggct, su1b, pi3kr4, myh9, lpl, gcdh, mylk, and col4a were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Taken together, our findings facilitate the understanding of the molecular basis underlying the muscle quality effect of dietary S. chinensis in triploid crucian carp, which provides valuable insights into the nutritional strategies of the aquaculture industry.

Lutein/Zeaxanthin Isomers and Quercetagetin Combination Safeguards the Retina from Photo-Oxidative Damage by Modulating Neuroplasticity Markers and the Nrf2 Pathway.

Exposure to light-emitting diode (LED) light is a primary cause of retinal damage, resulting in vision loss. Several plant-derived substances, such as lutein and quercetagetin (QCG), show promise in supporting eye health. In this study, the impact of lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z, Lutemax 2020) and QCG were evaluated individually and together in a rat model of LED-induced retinal damage. A total of 63 Wistar rats were allocated into nine groups (n = 7). For 28 days, the rats received L/Z (10 or 20 mg/kg BW), quercetin (QC, 20 mg/kg BW), QCG (10 or 20 mg/kg BW), or a mixture of different lutein and QCG dosages, after which they were exposed to LED light for 48 h. LED exposure led to a spike in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines, as well as an increase in retinal NF-κB, ICAM, GFAP, and MCP-1 levels (p < 0.0001 for all). It also reduced serum antioxidant enzyme activities and retinal Nrf2, HO-1, GAP43, NCAM, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness (p < 0.0001 for all). However, administering L/Z and QCG, particularly a 1:1 combination of L/Z and QCG at 20 mg/kg, effectively reversed these changes. The treatment suppressed NF-κB, ICAM, GFAP, and MCP-1 while enhancing Nrf2, HO-1, GAP43, and NCAM and preventing ONL thickness reduction in LED-induced retinal damage rats. In conclusion, while LED light exposure caused retinal damage, treatment with L/Z, QC, and QCG, particularly a combined L/Z and QCG regimen, exhibited protective effects on the retina. This is possibly due to the modulation of neuroplasticity markers and nuclear transcription factors in the rats' retinal cells.

Nicotinamide Riboside and Phycocyanin Oligopeptides Affect Stress Susceptibility in Chronic Corticosterone-Exposed Rats.

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is an NAD+ precursor capable of regulating mammalian cellular metabolism. Phycocyanin oligopeptide (PC), a phytonutrient found in blue-green algae, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the effects of NR, PC, and their combination on the telomere length as well as inflammatory and antioxidant status of rats under chronic stress conditions (CS). Forty-nine rats were allocated into seven groups: control, chronic stress (CS), CS with NR (26.44 mg/kg), a low dose of 2.64 mg/kg of PC (PC-LD), or a high dose of 26.44 mg/kg PC (PC-HD), NR + PC-LD, and NR + PC-HF. The rats were given daily corticosterone injections (40 mg/kg) to induce stress conditions, or NR and PC were orally administered for 21 days. NR and PC supplementation, particularly NR plus PC, increased the serum antioxidant enzyme activities, hepatic nicotinamide adenine (NAD+) content, and telomere length (p < 0.001 for all) compared to the CS group. The levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), liver interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-8 were reduced under the CS condition (p < 0.001). In addition, CS decreased the levels of hepatic telomere-related proteins and sirtuins (SIRT1 and 3), whereas administration of NR and PC or their combination to CS-exposed rats increased the levels of telomere-related proteins (e.g., POT1b, TRF1 and TRF2), SIRT3 and NAMPT (p < 0.05). In conclusion, NR and PC, especially their combination, can alleviate metabolic abnormalities by enhancing hepatic cytokines, SIRT3, NAMPT, and NAD+ levels in CS-exposed rats. More research is needed to further elucidate the potential health effects of the combination of NR and PC in humans.

Effects of three different plant-derived polysaccharides on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant function, and cecal microbiota of broilers.

This study investigated the effects of dietary plant polysaccharides on growth performance, immune status and intestinal health in broilers. We randomly divided 960 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks into 4 groups. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, and the remaining groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg ginseng polysaccharide (GPS), astragalus polysaccharides (APS), or Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide (SMP) for 42 d. Dietary supplementation with SMP significantly increased BW at 21 and 42 days of age, ADG and ADFI during the starter and whole experimental period, decreased the concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA, increased the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and CAT activity in the serum (P < 0.05). GPS, APS, and SMP supplementation increased serum levels of immunoglobulins, activities of GSH-Px, T-SOD and T-AOC, and cecal concentrations of acetic acid and propionic acid of broilers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing results showed that the relative abundance of Firmicutes was decreased while the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Alistipes, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group were increased (P < 0.05) in the GPS, APS, and GMP groups compared with the CON group. Dietary GPS, APS, and SMP supplementation could improve growth performance, enhance immune function by increasing serum immunoglobulin and regulating cytokines, improve antioxidant function by increasing serum antioxidant enzyme activity, increase volatile fatty acid levels and improve the microbial composition in the cecum of broilers. Dietary SMP supplementation had the optimal effect in this study. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Metagenomic characterization of the cecal microbiota community and functions in finishing pigs fed fermented Boehmeria nivea.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea, BN) is used as livestock forage through suitable silage fermentation owing to its nutritional value. To date, relatively few studies have investigated the effects of dietary fermented BN (FBN) on gut health in finishing pigs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with 20% FBN on intestinal morphology, gene expression, and the functional response of the gut microbiota in finishing pigs. We found that FBN did not significantly affect serum antioxidant enzyme activities, ileal morphology, or the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, or tight junction proteins in the liver of the pigs. However, the gene expression levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and interleukin 6 (IL6) were significantly downregulated in the ileum. A metagenomic analysis demonstrated that, compared with that seen in the control group, the cecal microbiota of pigs in the FBN treatment group was more closely clustered and contained a greater number of unique microbes. Bacteria were the predominant kingdom in the cecal microbiota, while Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla, and Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella were the dominant genera. Dietary FBN significantly increased the abundance of the probiotic bacterium Roseburia inulinivorans (p < 0.05). Functional analysis of the cecal microbiota showed that ABC transporter levels and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis-associated functions were diminished in FBN-fed pigs. Meanwhile, CAZyme analysis revealed that dietary FBN significantly downregulated the contents of carbohydrate-active enzymes, such as GT2, GH1, GH25, and GH13_31. In addition, cytochrome P450 analysis revealed that the abundance of CYP51 and CYP512 decreased with FBN treatment. An assessment of antibiotic resistance based on the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) annotation indicated that the cecal microbes from pigs in the FBN treatment group had increased resistance to lincosamide, streptogramin, and chloramphenicol and reduced resistance to amikacin, isepamicin, neomycin, lividomycin, gentamicin, paromomycin, ribostamycin, and butirosin. Finally, virulence factor-related analysis showed that putative hemolysin-associated functions were decreased, whereas fibronectin-binding protein, flagella, and alginate-associated functions were increased. Taken together, our data showed that FBN supplementation exerted only minor effects on intestinal morphology and microbial community composition, suggesting that it is potentially safe for use as a supplement in the diets of finishing pigs. However, more studies are needed to validate its functionality.

Dietary supplementation with Dendrobium officinale leaves improves growth, antioxidant status, immune function, and gut health in broilers.

The Dendrobium officinale leaves (DOL) is an underutilized by-product with a large biomass, which have been shown to exhibit immunomodulatory and antioxidant functions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of DOL on broiler growth performance, antioxidant status, immune function, and gut health. One hundred and ninety-two 1-day-old chicks were selected and divided into 4 groups at random, 6 replicates for each group and 8 in each. Chicks were given a basal diet supplemented with different amounts of DOL: 0% (control group, NC), 1% (LD), 5% (MD), or 10% (HD). During the feeding trial (70 days), broiler body weight, feed intake, and residual feeding were recorded. On d 70, 12 broilers from each group were sampled for serum antioxidant and immune indexes measurement, intestinal morphological analysis, as well as 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) determination. In comparison to the NC group, the LD group had greater final body weight and average daily gain, and a lower feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05, d 1 to 70). However, in MD group, no significant change of growth performance occurred (p > 0.05). Furthermore, DOL supplementation significantly improved the levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, but reduced the level of malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). Higher serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) content and lower cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 contents were observed in DOL-fed broilers than in control chickens (p <0.05). Compared to the NC group, duodenal villus height (VH) and villus height-to-crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio were considerably higher in three DOL supplementation groups (p < 0.05). Further, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that DOL increased the diversity and the relative abundance of cecal bacteria, particularly helpful microbes like Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Oscillospira, which improved the production of SCFA in cecal content. According to Spearman correlation analysis, the increased butyric acid and acetic acid concentrations were positively related to serum antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC and GSH-Px) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) level (p < 0.05). Overall, the current study demonstrated that supplementing the dies with DOL in appropriate doses could enhance growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune response, as well as gut health by promoting intestinal integrity and modulating the cecal microbiota in broilers. Our research may serve as a preliminary foundation for the future development and application of DOL as feed additive in broiler chicken diets.

Long-term crowding stress induces chronic inflammatory response and declines the immunity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

This study is aimed to explore the mechanism of overcrowding stress on the immunity of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. Fish were reared for 120 days at 10 kg/m3 (low stocking density, LSD), 15 kg/m3 (medium stocking density, MSD) and 20 kg/m3 (high stocking density, HSD). The results showed that HSD significantly increased the serum cortisol level, implying that fish reared at higher density were subjected to physiological stress. HSD led to a remarkable decline in serum lysozyme activity. The conspicuous decrease of serum complement 3 (C3) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents also appeared in the HSD group. The serum antioxidant enzymes activity included total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) of fish reared at HSD group were clearly decreased. The serum glutathione (GSH) concentration of fish reared at HSD group was notably reduced. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level was obviously increased in HSD group. Long-term crowding stress gave rise to the constitution of melano-macrophage centers in spleen. The transcriptional levels of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway were notably up-regulated except for iκbα and mTOR pathway related genes were prominently down-regulated in fish reared at HSD group. The notably up-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (tnf-α, ifnγ2, il1-β, and il-8) except for il-6 and prominently down-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (il-10, il4/13a, il4/13b, tgf-β1 and tgf-β2) appeared in HSD group. All of the above results revealed that long-term overcrowding stress induced unbalanced inflammatory response via TLR4/NF-κB and mTOR signaling pathway and decreased the immunity in grass carp.

Antioxidant Enzyme System Modulation by Dietary Palm Oils, Palm Kernel Oil and Soybean Oil in Laying Hens.

Palm-based oils (palm oil and kernel oil) and soybean oil have unique fatty acid and antioxidant profiles based on the compounds present in them. Hence, this study elucidated the antioxidant properties of crude palm oil (CPO), red palm oil (RPO), refined palm oil (RBD), palm kernel oil (PKO) and soybean oil (SBO) and the influence of dietary oils on blood lipid profiles, tissue fatty acid deposition and the expression of hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolism genes in laying hens. The oils were analyzed for color, beta-carotene, free fatty acid and acid value, phenolic content and lipid peroxidation. In an in vivo trial, 150 laying hens were allotted into five groups and supplemented with either CPO, RPO, RBD, PKO or SBO for 16 weeks. High antioxidant compounds present in palm oils help reduce the oxidation of oils. Dietary supplementation with palm oils, particularly CPO and RPO, contributed to the lower liver, serum and jejunal mucosal antioxidant enzyme activities. The antioxidant enzyme genes in the jejunal mucosa were downregulated in palm oils and PKO, but there was no difference between oils in antioxidant enzyme genes in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with oils with high antioxidant content contributed to protection against oxidation and was associated with a lower requirement for producing antioxidant enzymes.

Selenium alleviates biological toxicity of thiamethoxam (TMX): Bioaccumulation of TMX, organ damage, and antioxidant response of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Pesticides are important for agricultural development; however, animals involved in rice-fish farming absorb the pesticides used during the farming process. Thiamethoxam (TMX) is extensively used in agriculture and is gradually occupying the market for traditional pesticides. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether selenomethionine (SeMet) could affect the survival rate, bioaccumulation of TMX, serum biochemical parameters, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants in the hepatopancreas, and expression of stress genes after exposure of red swamp crayfish to 10 ppt TMX for 7 days. The results showed that the survival rate significantly increased and the bioaccumulation of TMX significantly decreased with SeMet administration (P < 0.05). Furthermore, severe histological damage to the hepatopancreas of red crayfish was observed after exposure to TMX; however, this damage was alleviated after SeMet administration. SeMet also significantly reduced the TMX-induced changes in serum biochemical parameters, malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant enzyme activity in crayfish hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). Notably, analysis of the expression of 10 stress response genes showed that 0.5 mg/kg SeMet might decrease cell damage in the hepatopancreas. Consequently, our findings suggest that higher levels of TMX in crayfish may cause hepatopancreatic cell toxicity, which can be harmful to human health; however, SeMet could mitigate these effects, providing an understanding of pesticide compounds and food safety.

The role of nutritional-immunological indices in estimating serum LPS and antioxidant enzyme activity and sepsis status in female dogs with pyometra caused by E. coli

The aim of this study was to diagnose pyometra and related sepsis status using cost-effective nutritional-immunological indices, antioxidants, and toxin levels in dogs and to investigate the utility of the indices in predicting toxin and antioxidant status. A total of 29 dogs were enrolled into the present study. Among these, 9 female dogs in their diestrus stages, were allocated for elective ovariohysterectomy. The pyometra group was also separated into two subgroups as Sepsis (+) and Sepsis (-). Blood samples were collected into two tubes containing EDTA for hematological analysis; without anticoagulant for serum progesterone, LPS concentration, and antioxidant levels at the time of diagnosis. Bacteriological and tissue samples of the uterus were collected after the ovariohysterectomy. Antioxidant activity, progesterone, and toxin concentration were determined by using commercial ELISA kits. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 16.1 and MedCalc 16 statistical software. Receiver operating characteristics curves were used for the threshold for evaluating pyometra and sepsis status. Pairwise comparisons were carried out of the area under the curve (AUC) for thresholds of nutritional immunologic indices (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet (HALP) score; prognostic nutritional index (PNI); Albumin hemoglobin index (AHI)), serum LPS and antioxidant activity. Linear regression model was used for the estimation of serum LPS and antioxidant activity by using indices. Mean serum progesterone, LPS concentrations, and Nitric Oxide (NO) production were greater, while serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), tissue SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were lower in dogs with pyometra. All nutritional-immunologic indices were lower in pyometra cases. Nutritional-immunologic indices (AUC of HALP:0.759; PNI:0.981; AHI 0.994), NO (AUC: 0.787) and SOD (AUC: 0.784) levels were useful for pyometra diagnosis. AHI and LPS were useful for the determination of sepsis status with the AUC values of 0.850 and 0.740, respectively. While AHI was useful for the estimation of serum LPS and NO concentration (p < 0.001), PNI was useful for serum SOD concentration (p = 0.003). In conclusion, PNI, HALP and AHI can be used in the diagnosis of pyometra, however, only AHI and LPS levels can be used in the diagnosis of sepsis. SOD and NO can be used to determine pyometra but have no effect on determining sepsis status. Additionally, the estimation of the levels of serum LPS, NO, and SOD activities can be done using the AHI and PNI values.

Feed withdrawal influences egg production, egg quality and antioxidant variables in White Leghorn layers reared during the tropical summer season

ABSTRACT 1. An experiment was conducted with White Leghorn layers (Babcock BV 300) to optimise the feed withdrawal schedule for egg-laying hens (67 to 80 weeks) reared in open-sided poultry houses during the tropical summer season. 2. Four feeding schedules (1. ad libitum access to the layer feed, 2. feed withdrawal from 9 AM-5 PM, 3. 11 AM-5 PM, and 4. 1 PM-5 PM followed by free access to the layer feed) were examined. Each feeding schedule was offered to 12 replicates consisting of 12 layers housed in four adjacent cages (45.7 × 35.6 × 43.2 cm). 3. Fasting the layers from 1-5 pm reduced egg production compared to layers fasting from 9 or 11 am. The FI/egg or unit egg mass was highest in layers fasted from 1-5 pm. In the 9 am-5 pm fasted group, the cloacal temperature (CT) increased significantly at 11 am and gradually reduced at 3 pm. In the 1-5 pm fasted group, the CT remained higher at 3 pm and 5 pm. 4. The cell-mediated immune response in layers fasted from 9 am or 11 am was higher than those fed ad libitum or 1-5 pm fasted group. Lipid peroxidation was higher in layers 1-5 pm fasted group, and significantly lower LP was found in groups that fasted from 9 am or 11 am. In general, the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase) were higher in layers that fasted from 9 am or 11 am compared to those that had ad libitum feed or fasted from 1-5 pm. 5. It was concluded that the feed withdrawal should be initiated during the forenoon (9 AM/11 am-5 pm) for optimum production and to reduce oxidative stress in egg-laying hens reared during summer in the tropical region.

Protective effect of dietary dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) extract on common carp under acute ammonia stress

This study examined the remedial effect of dandelion extract (DE) on acute ammonia stress in common carp. The experiment involved supplementing the common carp diet with five DE dozes, including 0 (control), 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% DE to the basic feed for 56 days. Then, all the fish were exposed to semile thal ammonia stress (1.65 mg/L) for 96 h, followed by detections the indexes of mortality, blood biochemistry, antioxidation, immunity, stress, and inflammation. The results showed that dietary DE increased the serum protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity of common carp ( P < 0.05). However, DE did not significantly affect the contents of stress hormone, HSP70 and HSP90 (p > 0.05). Exposure to ammonia significantly decreased the activities of immune and antioxidant enzymes in the control group. The serum protein content and immune enzyme activity of each DE group were significantly higher than the control group. After ammonia exposure, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ activities in DE groups were significantly lower then the Ctrl group，and IL-10 and antioxidant enzyme activities in 4% DE, 6% DE, and 8% DE groups was significantly higher compared to the Ctrl ( P < 0.05). Ammonia stress caused pathological damage to the liver tissue in control, 2% DE, 4% DE, and 8% DE groups, but the liver tissue of the 6% DE group showed normal tissue characteristics. Therefore, DE has a protective effect on common carp under acute ammonia exposure. Optimal doses of DE can improve the survival rate, antioxidant capacity, and nonspecific immunity, while can reduce the stress and inflammatory reaction of common carp caused by acute ammonia exposure. The second-order multiple regression analysis of TP, COR, LZM, T-AOC, mortality, and immune protection after ammonia stress showed 4.62–6.82% as the optimal level of dietary DE supplementation for carp under acute ammonia stress.

Minocycline effects on memory and learning impairment in the beta-amyloid-induced Alzheimer’s disease model in male rats using behavioral, biochemical, and histological methods

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as an advanced neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the everlasting impairment of memory, which is determined by hyperphosphorylation of intracellular Tau protein and accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the extracellular space. Minocycline is an antioxidant with neuroprotective effects that can freely cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study investigated the effect of minocycline on the changes in learning and memory functions, activities of blood serum antioxidant enzymes, neuronal loss, and the number of Aβ plaques after AD induced by Aβ in male rats. Healthy adult male Wistar rats (200–220g) were divided randomly into 11 groups (n = 10). The rats received minocycline (50 and 100 mg/kg/day; per os (P.O.)) before, after, and before/after AD induction for 30 days. At the end of the treatment course, behavioral performance was measured by standardized behavioral paradigms. Subsequently, brain samples and blood serum were collected for histological and biochemical analysis. The results indicated that Aβ injection impaired learning and memory performances in the Morris water maze test, reduced exploratory/locomotor activities in the open field test, and enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. The behavioral deficits were accompanied by hippocampal oxidative stress (decreased glutathione (GSH) peroxidase enzyme activity and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain (hippocampus) tissue), increased number of Aβ plaques, and neuronal loss in the hippocampus evidenced by Thioflavin S and H&E staining, respectively. Minocycline improved anxiety-like behavior, recovered Aβ-induced learning and memory deficits, increased GSH and decreased MDA levels, and prevented neuronal loss and the accumulation of Aβ plaques. Our results demonstrated that minocycline has neuroprotective effects and can reduce memory dysfunction, which are due to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.

The inclusion of garlic and turmeric powder in high-fructose diets protects against the development of metabolic syndrome in Wistar rats

The worldwide prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is largely attributable to excessive consumption of high-energy food sweeteners and lifestyle practices that encourage physical inactivity. This study was designed to evaluate the potential benefits of garlic and/or turmeric in down-regulating the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups of 3 rats per group. Group 1 received standard rat chow, Group 2 received a high-fructose diet only, while Group 3 received a 2% turmeric-supplemented high-fructose diet. Groups 4 and 5 were fed a standard diet supplemented with 2% each of garlic and turmeric:garlic (50% w/w), respectively. Groups 6, 7, and 8 were respectively fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with 2% garlic, a standard diet supplemented with 2% turmeric, and a high-fructose diet supplemented with 2% turmeric:garlic (50% w/w). Feed intake and changes in body weight were monitored weekly and after 56 days, the rats were sacrificed. Activities of serum antioxidant enzymes, lipid profile, and atherogenic indices were determined. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was computed from the measured blood glucose and insulin levels. The positive control (Group 2) gained weight significantly (p &lt; 0.05) when compared with groups that received diet supplementation. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and atherogenic indices of diet-supplemented groups were significantly low (p &lt; 0.05) when compared with the positive control. Interestingly, while no differences (p &gt; 0.05) were observed in the catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities in the high-fat diet group supplemented with 2% mixed turmeric:garlic when compared with the normal control, activities of these enzymes in the garlic and/or turmeric supplemented high-fructose diet groups were significantly elevated (p &lt; 0.05) when compared with the positive control. The HOMA-IR and atherogenic indices results revealed the inclusion of turmeric and garlic in a high-fat diet had anti-dyslipidemic effects, decreased oxidative stress, and reduced coronary risk factors. Our findings strongly suggest supplementation of high-calorie diets with garlic and/or turmeric powder has potential long-term health benefits in individuals exposed to the risks of developing metabolic syndrome.

Hydroxytyrosol attenuates diquat-induced oxidative stress by activating Nrf2 pathway and modulating colonic microbiota in mice

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) administration in diquat (DQ)-challenged mice. The results showed that HT treatment markedly alleviated DQ-induced oxidative stress, which was indicated by the enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum. Additionally, HT increased the mRNA expression levels of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream genes, including NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and catalase (CAT) in the small intestine of DQ-challenged mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that HT treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. Interestingly, Pearson correlation analysis showed that there were strong association between colonic Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroidetes and the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes. Meanwhile, HT significantly enhanced the colonic butyrate concentration in DQ-challenged mice. Additionally, HT treatment decreased the serum metabolites involving in glycerophospholipid metabolism, pentose, and glucuronate interconversions, which were associated with alleviated oxidative stress. These results indicate that oral administration of 100 mg/kg body weight HT alleviates oxidative stress in DQ-challenged mice, which may involve Nrf2 signaling pathways via modulation of colonic microbiota.