Total Glutathione Peroxidase Activity Research Articles

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the growth performance and serum biochemical index values of puppies

We investigated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) on the growth performance and health level of puppies. A total of 16 healthy Chinese rural dogs aged 30-45 days were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CG), low-dose group (LDG), middle-dose group (MDG) and high-dose group (HDG). The puppies were fed fresh food supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6g/kg of α-LA, respectively. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed-to-gain ratio (F/G), faecal score, intestinal absorption function and serological indices on days 1, 14 and 28 were determined and analysed. The trial period was 28 days. The following results were obtained: (1) α-LA supplementation at 0.4 and 0.6g/kg significantly increased the ADFI and ADG of the puppies (P < 0.05) but had no significant effect on the faecal score (P > 0.05); (2) α-LA in the fresh diet significantly increased crude fat (EE) digestibility (P< 0.05) but significantly decreased calcium (Ca) digestibility (P< 0.05), without significant impacts on the digestibility of nutrients such as crude protein (CP) and total phosphorus (P); (3) with increasing α-LA inclusion levels, the content of D-xylose in the blood serum increased, but there was no significant difference among groups (P = 0.097). Adding 0.6mg/kg α-LA to the fresh diet significantly increased the content of IgG in the serum after 14 and 28 days (P < 0.05). At 28 days, adding 0.4 and 0.6g/kg α-LA to the fresh diet could significantly increase the contents of albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP) in the blood serum (P < 0.05), and the addition of 0.6g/kg α-LA could significantly increase the serum levels of IgA and IgG (P < 0.05). The addition of α-LA significantly increased the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (P < 0.05), decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05), decreased the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P< 0.05) and increased the content of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the blood serum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of α-LA at 0.6g/kg to the fresh diet of puppies can improve the ADFI, ADG, serum immune capacity, antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory capacity of puppies.

Dietary Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Modulates Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Lipid Metabolism in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Fed with High-Fat Diet.

To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on growth performance, oxidative stress, and lipid deposition in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed with high-fat diets, fish with an initial weight of 5.29 ± 0.12 g were divided into five experimental groups-including normal-fat diets, high-fat diets, and high-fat diets-supplemented with LBP (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg) for 8 weeks. The results showed that high-fat diets resulted in significant decreases in final body weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate of fish, as well as causing a significant decrease in hepatic total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. These changes were accompanied by a significant decrease in lipase activity and ATP level and a significant increase in malondialdehyde content. The expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes (acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase) were also markedly elevated by high-fat diets. Supplementation with 0.5-2.0 g/kg LBP in high-fat diets improved the reduced growth performance, increased hepatic total antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde level in fish fed with high-fat diets. Additionally, dietary supplementation with LBP significantly downregulated hepatic gene expression levels of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase. In conclusion, fish fed with high-fat diets demonstrated impaired growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism, and dietary supplementation with 0.5-2.0 g/kg LBP ameliorated the impairments induced by high-fat diets.

The Protective Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with Q10 Supplementation on Learning and Memory Impairments in Male Rats with Amyloid-β-Induced Alzheimer's Disease.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive deficits. This study was done to determine the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alone and in combination for eight continuous weeks, on oxidative status, cognitive functions, and histological changes in the hippocampus in amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced AD rats. Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the sham, control, Q10 (50 mg/kg of CoQ10; P.O.), HIIT (high intensity: 4 min running at 85-90% VO2max, low intensity: 3 min running at 50-60% VO2max), Q10 + HIIT, AD, AD+Q10, AD+HIIT, and AD+Q10 + HIIT groups. The results showed that Aβ injection reduced cognitive functions in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and recognition memory in the novel object recognition test (NORT), which was accompanied by a decrease in total thiol groups, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, an increase in malondialdehyde levels, and neuronal loss in the hippocampus. Interestingly, pretreatment with CoQ10, HIIT, or both, could markedly improve the oxidative status and cognitive decline in the MWM and NOR tests, and hinder neuronal loss in the hippocampus of Aβ-induced AD rats. Therefore, a combination of CoQ10 and HIIT can improve Aβ-related cognitive deficits, probably through an amelioration in hippocampal oxidative status and prevention of neuronal loss.

Deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin cause liver damage and egg quality degradation through endoplasmic reticulum stress in summer laying hens.

The present study aimed to find whether low doses of mixed mycotoxins would affect egg quality in laying hens, and to explore the oxidative stress induced liver damage through endoplasmic reticulum during summer stress. A total of 96 Jinghong laying hens, 36 wks of age, were divided into four treatments, with eight repetitions per treatment and three hens per repetition. All the hens were raised in summer (average temperature: 31.3 ± 0.5℃; average humidity: 85.5 ± 0.2%) for 28d. One treatment was fed a basal diet as control (CON), and the other three treatments were fed the same diets containing 3.0mg/kg deoxynivalenol (DON), 0.5mg/kg T-2 toxin (T-2), and 1.5mg/kg DON + 0.25mg/kg T-2 toxin (Mix). Albumen height and Haugh unit were decreased (P < 0.05) in the Mix group on day 14 and 28. The activity of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were decreased (P < 0.05) in the DON, T-2, and Mix groups. The alkaline phosphatase level in DON, T-2, and Mix groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The level of interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the Mix group were higher (P < 0.05) than CON, DON, and T-2 groups. Mix group upregulated the mRNA expressions of protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase, activating transcription factor4, IL-1β, nuclear factor-κ-gene binding, and nuclear respiratory factor 2 in the liver (P < 0.05). The results showed that low doses of DON and T-2 toxin could cause oxidative stress in the liver, but DON and T-2 toxin have a cumulative effect on virulence, which can reduce egg quality and cause endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver.

Exploring the effects of the dietary fiber compound mediated by a longevity dietary pattern on antioxidation, characteristic bacterial genera, and metabolites based on fecal metabolomics

BackgroundAge-related dysbiosis of the microbiota has been linked to various negative health outcomes. This study aims to investigate the effects of a newly discovered dietary fiber compound (DFC) on aging, intestinal microbiota, and related metabolic processes. The DFC was identified through in vitro fermentation screening experiments, and its dosage and composition were determined based on a longevity dietary pattern.MethodsAged SPF C57BL/6 J mice (65 weeks old) and young mice (8 weeks old) were divided into three groups: a subgroup without dietary fiber (NDF), a low DFC dose subgroup (LDF, 10% DFC), and a high DFC dose subgroup (HDF, 20% DFC). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in liver and serum samples of the mice were measured according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The expression levels of characteristic bacterial genera and fecal metabolite concentrations in mice were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H NMR). Metabolomics analysis was further conducted to identify biological functions and potential pathways related to aging.ResultsAfter an 8-weeks dietary intervention, DFC supplementation significantly attenuated age-related weight loss, organ degeneration, and oxidative stress. And promoted the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacteroides (p < 0.05) in the intestinal tracts of aged mice. Metabolomic analysis identified glycolipid and amino acid metabolic pathway biomarkers associated with aging that were differentially regulated by DFC consumption. Correlation analysis between the identified microbial flora and the biomarkers revealed potential mechanistic links between altered microbial composition and metabolic activity with aging markers.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this study revealed an important mechanism by which DFC consumption impacts healthspan and longevity, shedding light on optimizing dietary fiber or developing fiber-based interventions to improve human health.

Abstract 2963: Dihydromyricetin is a senomorphic agent to promote therapeutic outcome of age-related conditions including cancer and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Aging is characterized by a progressive decline of organ function and gradual rise of susceptibility to multiple chronic disorders, with cancer being a primary cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cellular senescence represents a state of permanent cell cycle arrest and contributes to chronological aging and age-related diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), mainly through development of a distinct secretome termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). By screening a natural medicinal agent library, we noticed Rattan tea extract (RTE) has a prominent antiaging potential, wherein dihydromyricetin (DMY), the most abundant natural flavonoid in RTE, played a central role in suppressing the SASP expression of senescent cells. DMY enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), increased catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, upregulated the expression of HO-1, NQO1, nuclear Nrf2 and phospho-ERK (p-ERK), but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in senescent cells. Furthermore, DMY regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, NLRP3 inflammasome formation, the NF-κB complex activity and ER stress-response, each responsible for a full spectrum SASP development. Transcriptomic profiling suggested that DMY can dampen the genome-wide upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors produced by senescent cells, resulting in abrogated progression of cancer malignancy including elevated proliferation, migration, invasion and chemoresistance. Importantly, combination of DMY with classic chemotherapy significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy, causing remarkable tumor regression and extending posttreatment survival. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by the presence of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, damaged neuronal macromolecules and redox sensitive ions. We found that DMY restrains inflammatory injury in microglial cells, reduces their apoptosis and inflammation, and inhibits TLR4 and MD2 expression. Results of small molecule-protein docking and pull-down assays indicated that DMY binds MD2 to suppress the formation of TLR4 complex. In AD mice, DMY improved the cognitive disorder of animals, suppressed inflammatory injury in brain and reduced TLR4 expression. Together, DMY represents a valid natural candidate that has senomorphic activity and can be applied for treatment of malignancies or neurodegenerative disorders such as AD, pathologies that frequently arise in late life of humans. Citation Format: Qixia Xu, Zi Li, Zhirui Jiang, Judith Campisi, Yu Sun. Dihydromyricetin is a senomorphic agent to promote therapeutic outcome of age-related conditions including cancer and Alzheimer's disease [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2963.

Dietary rutin improves the antidiarrheal capacity of weaned piglets by improving intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity and cecal microbiota composition.

Early weaning is prone to damage intestinal barrier function, resulting in diarrhea, whereas rutin, as a natural flavonoid with multiple biological functions, shows potential in piglets. Therefore, the effects of dietary rutin on growth, antidiarrheal, barrier function, antioxidant status and cecal microbiota of weaned piglets were investigated with the control group (CON) (basal diet) and Rutin (basal diet+500 mg kg-1 rutin) groups fed for 14 days. The results showed that dietary 500 mg kg-1 rutin significantly decreased diarrhea index, serum diamine oxidase activity and total aerobic bacterial population in mesenteric lymph nodes, whereas it significantly increased the gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) and serum growth hormone content, jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio, and also enhanced jejunal claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 mRNA and protein expression. Meanwhile, dietary rutin significantly decreased inflammation-associated mRNA expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, swollen mitochondrial number and mitochondrial area in the jejunum, whereas it increased the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities and activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Moreover, dietary rutin significantly increased Firmicutes abundance and decreased Campylobacterota abundance, which were closely associated with the decreased diarrhea index and MDA content or increased Claudin-1 expression and T-SOD activity. Dietary 500 mg kg-1 rutin increased G:F by improving intestinal morphology, and alleviated diarrhea by enhancing intestinal barrier, which might be associated with the enhanced antioxidant capacity via activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway and the improved cecal microbial composition in weaned piglets. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Selenomethionine Supplementation Mitigates Liver Dysfunction, Oxidative Injury and Apoptosis through Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Inhibiting JNK MAPK Pathway in Piglets Fed Deoxynivalenol-Contaminated Diets.

This research evaluated the impacts of selenomethionine (Se-Met) on hepatic functions, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis of piglets fed deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated diets. Twenty-four piglets were allocated four dietary treatments (n = 6) in a 28-day feeding trial. The four treatments included the control group, which received 0.3 mg/kg of Se (as Se-Met) without DON treatment, and the DON treatment groups received 0, 0.3, or 0.5 mg/kg Se as Se-Met. A dietary addition of 0.5 mg/kg Se improved liver pathology and reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels in piglets fed DON-contaminated diets. Furthermore, 0.5 mg/kg Se mitigated the oxidative stress and apoptosis of piglets fed DON-contaminated diets, as indicated by the decreased reactive oxygen species level, and the down-regulated mRNA levels of NRF-1, Bax, and CASP9 in the liver. Importantly, 0.5 mg/kg Se enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by increased hepatic total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total superoxide dismutase activities, as well as the up-regulated mRNA levels of Nrf2, Gclm, NQO1, SOD1, and GPX1 in the liver. Moreover, 0.5 mg/kg Se down-regulated the p-JNK protein level in the liver of piglets fed DON-contaminated diets. Collectively, Se-Met supplementation mitigated liver dysfunction, oxidative injury, and apoptosis through enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the JNK MAPK pathway in piglets fed DON-contaminated diets.

Effects of Antimicrobial Peptides on Antioxidant Properties, Non-specific Immune Response and Gut Microbes of Tsinling Lenok Trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis).

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of non-specific immunity and play a key role in the cellular host defense against pathogens and tissue injury infections. We investigated the effects of AMP supplementation on the antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity, and gut microbiota of tsinling lenok trout. 240 fish were fed diets (CT, A120, A240 and A480) containing different amounts of AMP peptides (0, 120mgkg-1, 240mgkg-1, 480mgkg-1) for 8weeks. Our results showed that the activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lysozyme (LZM), catalase (CAT) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the A240 and A480 group were higher than that in the CT group (P < 0.05). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in AMP group was significantly lower than that in CT group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we harvested the mid-gut and applied next-generation sequencing of 16S rDNA. The results showed that the abundance of Halomonas in AMP group was significantly lower than that in CT group. Functional analysis showed that the abundance of chloroalkane and chloroalkene degradation pathway increased significantly in AMP group. In conclusion, AMP enhanced the antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity, and intestinal health of tsinling lenok trout.

Ginger polysaccharide alleviates the effects of acute exposure to carbonate in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by regulating immunity, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal metabolism

Alkaline stress poses a significant challenge to the healthy growth of fish. Ginger polysaccharide (GP) is one of the main active substances in ginger and has pharmacological effects, such as anti-oxidation and immune regulation. However, the physiological regulatory mechanism of GP addition to diet on alkalinity stress in crucian carp remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of dietary GP on antioxidant capacity, gene expression levels, intestinal microbiome, and metabolomics of crucian carp exposed to carbonate (NaHCO3). The CK group (no GP supplementation) and COG group (NaHCO3 stress and no GP supplementation) were set up. The GPCS group (NaHCO3 stress and 0.4% GP supplementation) was stressed for seven days. Based on these data, GP significantly increased the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in carp under alkalinity stress (p < 0.05) and decreased the activity of malon dialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). GP restored the activity of GSH-PX, ACP, and AKP to CK levels. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) genes were decreased, and the expression levels of determination factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) genes were increased (p < 0.05). Based on 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, GP improved the changes in the intestinal microbial diversity and structural composition of crucian carp caused by NaHCO3 exposure. In particular, GP increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes and decreased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. The metabolic response of GP to NaHCO3 exposed crucian carp guts was studied using LC/MS. Compared to the COG group, the GPCS group had 64 different metabolites and enriched 10 metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. The addition of GP to feed can promote galactose metabolism and provide an energy supply to crucian carp, thus alleviating the damage induced by alkalinity stress. In conclusion, GP can mitigate the effects of NaHCO3 alkalinity stress by regulating immune function, intestinal flora, and intestinal metabolism in crucian carp. These findings provide a novel idea for studying the mechanism of salt-alkali tolerance in crucian carp by adding GP to feed.

Metabolomic analysis reveals biogenic selenium nanoparticles improve the meat quality of thigh muscle in heat-stressed broilers is related to the regulation of ferroptosis pathway

Heat stress (HS) causes oxidative damage and abnormal metabolism of muscle, thus impairing the meat quality in broilers. Selenium is an indispensable element for enhancing antioxidant systems. In our previous study, we synthesized a novel type of biogenic selenium nanoparticles synthesized with alginate oligosaccharides (SeNPs-AOS), and found that the particle size of Se is 80 nm and the Se content is 8% in the SeNPs-AOS; and dietary 5 mg/kg SeNPs-AOS has been shown to be effective against HS in broilers. However, whether SeNPs-AOS can mitigate HS-induced the impairment of thigh muscle quality in broilers is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of dietary SeNPs-AOS on meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and metabolomics of thigh muscle in broilers under HS. A total of 192 twenty-one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group (8 broilers per replicate) according to a 2 × 2 experimental design: thermoneutral group (TN, broilers raised under 23±1.5°C); TN+SeNPs-AOS group (TN group supplemented 5 mg/kg SeNPS-AOS); HS group (broilers raised under 33 ± 2°C for 10 h/d); and HS + SeNPs-AOS group (HS group supplemented 5 mg/kg SeNPS-AOS). The results showed that HS increased the freezing loss, cooking loss, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of thigh muscle, whereas decreased the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as downregulated the mRNA expression of SOD2, CAT, GPX3, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), selenoprotein S (SELENOS), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), GPX4, and ferroportin 1 (Fpn1) of thigh muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary SeNPS-AOS reduced the b* value, elevated the pH0min value and the activities of T-SOD, GSH-Px, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the mRNA expression levels of GSTT1, GSTA3, GPX1, GPX3, ferritin heavy polypeptide-1 (FTH1), and Fpn1 of thigh muscle in broilers under HS (P < 0.05). Nontargeted metabolomics analysis identified a total of 79 metabolites with significant differences among the four groups, and the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in 8 metabolic pathways including glutathione metabolism and ferroptosis (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary 5 mg/kg SeNPs-AOS (Se content of 8%) could alleviate HS-induced impairment of meat quality by improving the oxidative damage, metabolic disorders and ferroptosis of thigh muscle in broilers challenged with HS. Suggesting that the SeNPs-AOS may be used as a novel nano-modifier for meat quality in broilers raised in thermal environment.

Effects of dietary addition of ellagic acid on rumen metabolism, nutrient apparent digestibility, and growth performance in Kazakh sheep.

Plant extracts have shown promise as natural feed additives to improve animal health and growth. Ellagic acid (EA), widely present in various plant tissues, offers diverse biological benefits. However, limited research has explored its effects on ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary addition EA on rumen metabolism, apparent digestibility of nutrients, and growth performance in Kazakh sheep. Ten 5-month-old Kazakh sheep with similar body weight (BW), fitted with rumen fistulas, were randomly assigned to two groups: the CON group (basal diet) and the EA group (basal diet + 30 mg/kg BW EA). The experiment lasted 30 days, and individual growth performance was assessed under identical feeding and management conditions. During the experimental period, rumen fluid, fecal, and blood samples were collected for analysis. The results indicated a trend toward increased average daily gain in the EA group compared to the CON group (p = 0.094). Compared with the CON group, the rumen contents of acetic acid and propionic acid were significantly increased in the EA group and reached the highest value at 2 h to 4 h after feeding (p < 0.05). Moreover, the relative abundances of specific rumen microbiota (Ruminococcaceae, uncultured_rumen_bacterium, unclassified_Prevotella, Bacteroidales, Bacteroidota, Bacteroidia, unclassified_Rikenellaceae, and Prevotella_spBP1_145) at the family and genus levels were significantly higher in the EA group (p < 0.05) compared to the CON group. The EA group exhibited significantly higher dry matter intake (p < 0.05) and increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and ether extract when compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the plasma activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly higher, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly lower in the EA group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 30 mg/kg BW EA in 5-month-old Kazakh sheep increased the dry matter intakQ16e, apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, and ether extract, as well as the contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in rumen fluid. Moreover, EA supplementation regulated the ruminal microbiota, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and improved daily weight gain.

The glutathione biosynthesis is involved in metamorphosis, antioxidant function, and insecticide resistance in Tribolium castaneum.

Reduced glutathione (GSH) synthesis is vital for redox homeostasis, cell-cycle regulation and apoptosis, and immune function. The glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, suggesting the potential use of Gclc as a pesticide target. However, the functional characterization of Gclc, especially its contribution in metamorphosis, antioxidant status and insecticide resistance, is unclear in Tribolium castaneum. In this study, we identified and cloned Gclc from T. castaneum (TcGclc) and found that its expression began to increase significantly from the late larvae (LL) stage (3.491 ± 0.490-fold). Furthermore, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of TcGclc resulted in three types of aberration (100% total aberration rate) caused by the downregulation of genes related to the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) pathway. This deficiency was partially rescued by exogenous 20E treatment (53.1% ± 3.2%), but not by antioxidant. Moreover, in the TcGclc knockdown group, GSH content was decreased to 62.3%, and total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase activities were reduced by 14.6%, 83.6%, and 82.3%, respectively. In addition, treatment with different insecticides upregulated expression of TcGclc significantly compared with a control group during the late larval stage (P < 0.01). Our results indicate that TcGclc has an extensive role in metamorphosis, antioxidant function and insecticide resistance in T. castaneum, thereby expanding our understanding of GSH functions and providing a scientific basis for pest control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of antioxidant-rich Lactiplantibacillus plantarum inoculated alfalfa silage on rumen fermentation, antioxidant and immunity status, and mammary gland gene expression in dairy goats

BackgroundMilk synthesis in lactating animals demands high energy metabolism, which results in an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) causing an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants thereby inducing oxidative stress (OS) on the animals. To mitigate OS and postpartum disorders in dairy goats and gain insight into the impact of dietary choices on redox status during lactation, a feeding trial was conducted using alfalfa silage inoculated with a high-antioxidant strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.MethodsTwenty-four Guanzhong dairy goats (38.1 ± 1.20 kg) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: one containing silage inoculated with L. plantarum MTD/1 (RSMTD-1), and the other containing silage inoculated with high antioxidant activity L. plantarum 24-7 (ES24-7).ResultsES24-7-inoculated silage exhibited better fermentation quality and antioxidant activity compared to RSMTD-1. The ES24-7 diet elevated the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities in milk, serum, and feces of lactating goats (with the exception of T-AOC in milk). Additionally, the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage enhanced casein yield, milk free fatty acid (FFA) content, and vitamin A level in the goats’ milk. Furthermore, an increase of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, IgM, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 concentrations were observed, coupled with a reduction in IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations in the serum of lactating goats fed ES24-7. Higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, and propionate were observed in the rumen fluid of dairy goats fed ES24-7 inoculated silage. Moreover, the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (NFE2L2), beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1), SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, GPX2, CAT, glutathione-disulfide reductase (GSR), and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) genes in the mammary gland, while decreased the levels of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), TNF, and interferon gamma (IFNG).ConclusionsThese findings indicated that feeding L. plantarum 24-7 inoculated alfalfa silage not only improved rumen fermentation and milk quality in lactating dairy goats but also boosted their immunity and antioxidant status by modulating the expression of several genes related to antioxidant and inflammation in the mammary gland.

Effects of puerarin as a feed additive on the laying performance, egg quality, endocrine hormones, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology of aged laying hens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of puerarin (Pue), a phytoestrogen, on the production performance, egg quality, endocrine hormones, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in aged laying hens. A total of 180 Hy-Line Brown hens aged 480 d were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 45 per group) and fed 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of Pue (Con, L-Pue, M-Pue, and H-Pue, respectively) during a 42-d experiment. Compared with the Con treatment, supplementation with H-Pue improved laying performance and egg quality by significantly increasing egg production, average egg weight, albumen height, yolk weight, and Haugh unit (P < 0.05) while decreasing the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). A diet supplemented with H-Pue significantly decreasing serum total triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and significantly increasing serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone (P < 0.05). Antioxidant activity was improved by significantly increasing the activity of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and catalase but decreasing malondialdehyde levels in serum, jejunum, and ileum (P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase activity exhibited a significantly increase in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05) were significantly increased in the jejunum and ileum. In the jejunal and ileal mucosa, the three treatment groups increased the mRNA expression levels of Claudin-1 and Claudin-2 compared with Con (P < 0.05), and no significant effect was observed on the expression of Occludin and ZO-1. The results showed that dietary supplementation with Pue could improve the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, hormonal profile, and intestinal morphology of aged laying hens.

Effects of Solid-State Fermented (SSF) Pelleted Feed with Lactobacillus plantarum on Tachysurus fulvidraco: Growth, Digestion, Antioxidant, Immunity, Intestinal Morphology, and Microbiota

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of solid-state fermented commercial pelleted feed with Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance, digestive physiology, antioxidant, and immune capacity, as well as morphology and microbiota in intestinal of Tachysurus fulvidraco. A total of 420 fish (49.96 ± 7.10 g) were randomly allocated to twelve 300 L buckets for a 60 d farming trial. The diets of three treatments were established: the untreated commercial diet (UCD), the commercial diet mixed with fermented liquid (MFLD), and the solid-state fermented commercial diet (SSFD). The results indicated that SSFD treatment had a significant positive effect on the growth performance of T. fulvidraco, with an increase of 15.69% to 16.57% (p &lt; 0.05) compared with UCD and MFLD treatments. MFLD and SSFD treatments also showed higher total anti-oxygen capacity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the intestine significantly compared with UCD treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the activities of alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme activities both in the liver and intestine were significantly higher in MFLD and SSFD treatments than in UCD treatment (p &lt; 0.05). The villus height in the midintestine was also greater in MFLD and SSFD treatments compared with UCD treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Regarding the intestinal microbiota, the dominant bacteria in UCD treatment was Cetobacterium, with the highest abundance in whole intestinal segments. However, in MFLD and SSFD treatments, the abundance of Cetobacterium in the foreintestine significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, this study elucidates that solid-state fermentation feed may not only improve the digestive capacity, antioxidant ability, immune function, and intestinal morphology of T. fulvidraco to enhance growth performance but also influence intestinal microbial composition. These findings provide beneficial proof for developing fermented feed of T. fulvidraco.

Effects of ferulic acid on the growth performance, physiological and biochemical functions, and hepato-intestinal health of blunt snout bream, Megalobrama amblycephala

To investigate the impact of dietary inclusion of ferulic acid (FA) on growth performance, physiological and biochemical functions and hepato-intestinal health, three iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets supplemented with 0 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg FA were fed to Megalobrama amblycephala (9.75 ± 0.04 g) for 8 weeks. The growth performance, physiological and biochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity and the expression of genes were assessed on 4th and 8th week. The results indicated that 100 mg/kg FA inclusion significantly enhanced the weight gain rate (on week 4 and 8), feed intake (on 4th week), protein efficiency ratio (on week 8) and condition factor (on week 4) (P < 0.05). In plasma biochemical index, dietary FA significantly reduced the contents of alanine aminotransferase, glucose and lactate dehydrogenase on 8th week (P < 0.05). In the antioxidant capacity, dietary FA decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in hepatopancreas and intestine (P < 0.05), while increased the activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase (P < 0.05), and the best effects were observed at 100 mg/kg FA inclusion on 8th week. On 8th week, the supplementation of 100 mg/kg FA down-regulated the expression levels of inflammation-related genes (interleukin-6, interleukin-1β (hepatopancreas only), nuclear factor-κB), pro-apoptotic gene caspase-8 and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (X-box-binding protein 1 S, protein kinase R-like ER kinase, inositol requiring enzyme 1, C/EBP homologous protein, immunoglobulin binding protein (hepatopancreas only), activated transcription factor 6α, activated transcription factor 4) (P < 0.05), while the anti-apoptotic gene B lymphoblastoma-2 was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). In conclusion, FA enhanced the growth performance, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reduced apoptosis level, and maintained the hepato-intestinal endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. The FA inclusion was suggested at 100 mg/kg.

Dietary Chito-oligosaccharide attenuates LPS-challenged intestinal inflammation via regulating mitochondrial apoptotic and MAPK signaling pathway

To investigate the regulatory effects of Chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and MAPK signaling pathways. A total of 40 28-day-old weaned piglets were randomly allotted to 4 equal groups [including the control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, COS group, and COS*LPS group]. On the morning of d 14 and 21, piglets were injected with saline or LPS. At 2 h post-injection, whole blood samples were collected on d 14 and 21, and small intestine and liver samples were collected and analyzed on d 21. The results showed that COS inhibited the LPS-induced increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and hepatic TNF-α cytokines. COS significantly increased the serum total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) value on d 14, and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities in both serum and liver on d 21. Furthermore, it increased hepatic catalase (CAT) activity. COS also increased the LPS-induced decrease in serum IgG concentrations. Immunohistochemical analysis results showed that COS significantly increased the jejunal and ileal Caspase 3, and ileal CD4+ values challenged by LPS. Dietary COS decreased the LPS-induced jejunal and ileal BAX and CCL2 mRNA levels, markedly decreased ileal COX2 and SOD1 mRNA levels, while increasing ileal iNOS. Furthermore, COS significantly increased the LPS-induced jejunal and ileal p-P38 and MyD88, as well as jejunal P38, while it effectively suppressed jejunal JNK1, and jejunal and ileal JNK2, p-JNK1, and p-JNK2 protein expressions. These results demonstrated that COS could be beneficial by attenuating LPS-challenged intestinal inflammation via regulating mitochondrial apoptotic and MAPK signaling pathways.

Biological effects of molybdenum(IV) sulfide nanoparticles and microparticles in the rat after repeated intratracheal administration.

In this study, molybdenum(IV) sulfide (MoS2 ) nanoparticles (97 ± 32 nm) and microparticles (1.92 ± 0.64 μm) stabilized with poly (vinylpolypyrrolidone) (PVP) were administered intratracheally to male and female rats (dose of 1.5 or 5mg/kg bw), every 14 days for 90 days (seven administrations in total). Blood parameters were assessed during and at the end of the study (hematology, biochemistry including glucose, albumins, uric acid, urea, high density lipoprotein HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase ALT). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analyses included cell viability, biochemistry (total protein concentration, lactate dehydrogenase, and glutathione peroxidase activity), and cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor α, TNF-α, macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha, MIP-2, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2, CINC-2). Tissues were subjected to routine histopathological and electron microscopy (STEM) examinations. No overt signs of chronic toxicity were observed. Differential cell counts in BALF revealed no significant differences between the animal groups. An increase in MIP-2 and a decrease in TNF-α were observed in BALF in the exposed males. The histopathological changes in the lung evaluated according to a developed classification system (based on severity of inflammation, range 0-4, with 4 indicating the most severe changes) showed average histopathological score of 1.33 for animals exposed to nanoparticles and microparticles at the lower dose, 1.72 after exposure to nanoparticles at the higher dose, and 2.83 for animals exposed to microparticles at the higher dose. In summary, it was shown that nanosized and microsized MoS2 can trigger dose-dependent inflammatory reactions in the lungs of rats after multiple intratracheal instillation irrespective of the animal sex. Some evidence indicates a higher lung pro-inflammatory potential of the microform.

Resveratrol improves emamectin benzoate-induced pyroptosis and inflammation of Ctenopharyngodon idellus hepatic cells by alleviating oxidative stress/endoplasmic reticulum stress

Emamectin benzoate (EMB) is the most widely used pesticide in the world and contributes to water pollution. Owing to the lack of a specific antidote, EMB has a severe negative impact on the health of aquatic organisms. Resveratrol (RES), a substance with antioxidant capacity, is secreted by the fruits of many plants. This study was to explore the protection of RES against EMB-induced pyroptosis and inflammatory response in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) hepatic liver (L8824) cells by oxidative stress/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The results showed that compared to the CON group, EMB induced oxidative stress in L8824 cells with the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents and the decrease of total superoxide dismutase (t-sod) and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) activities (P < 0.05). In addition, EMB triggered ERS, increasing the relative mRNA expression of protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (perk), inositol requiring enzyme 1 alpha (ire1α), glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78), activating transcription factor 4 (atf4), activating transcription factor 6 (atf6), and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (chop) and the protein expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eif2α), chop, atf6, and atf4. Meanwhile, EMB further induced pyroptosis by upregulating the mRNA and protein expression of nlrp3, aptamer protein (asc), caspase-1, gsdmd, interleukin-1β (il-1β), and interleukin-18 (il-18). EMB also induced inflammation in L8824 cells by increasing the mRNA expression of interleukin-2 (il-2), interleukin-6 (il-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α), and ifn-γ and decreasing the content of interleukin-10 (il-10). However, compared to the EMB group, the oxidant indices and expression of genes related to ER stress, pyroptosis, and pro-inflammatory factors were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05), whereas the antioxidant indicators and anti-inflammatory factor were significantly up-regulated in the EMB + RES group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, EMB caused hepatocytes pyroptosis and inflammation in grass carp, and RES could alleviate EMB-induced pyroptosis and inflammation in L8824 cells by ameliorating oxidative stress/ER stress.