Neurotoxicity induced by a single oral dose of aniline in rats.

The neurotoxicity of aniline and its age-dependent responses were investigated in male rats. Groups of 6 rats, 4-week-old, were treated once with aniline (500, 750 or 1,000 mg/kg) or olive oil by gavage. Additional groups of 6 rats, 7- or 10-week-old, were treated once with 800 mg/kg of aniline or olive oil. Paralytic gait or hindlimb paralysis was observed between post-treatment days 8 and 15 in two out of six rats receiving 1,000 mg/kg of aniline at 4 weeks of age. On post-treatment day 15, spongy change in the white matter of the spinal cord was observed in all rats receiving 750 or 1,000 mg/kg of aniline at 4 weeks of age. The lateral and ventral columns of the thoracic spinal cord were the most severely affected. Spongy change in the facial nerve and spinal trigeminal tracts of pons and medulla oblongata, and mild degeneration of the peripheral nerves was found in 3 out of 6 rats receiving 1,000 mg/kg of aniline. At the ultrastructural level, the spongy change was due to distention of the myelin sheath and splitting of the intraperiod line. Axons were well preserved in the affected nerve fibers. No abnormalities were seen in the neuronal cell bodies. Although transient cyanosis was observed in all rats receiving 800 mg/kg of aniline at 7- or 10-week-old, as well as in rats receiving 750 or 1,000 mg/kg of aniline at 4-week-old, no treatment-related neurobehavioral or morphologic abnormalities were found in the former. These findings demonstrate the neurotoxicity of orally administered aniline for rats, depending upon the age of the animal at the time of administration.     

约氏乳杆菌对大鼠生长性能、血液指标及脏器指数的影响

本试验旨在研究约氏乳杆菌对大鼠生长性能、血液指标及脏器指数的影响。试验选取SD大鼠80只,雌雄各半。大鼠按照体重相近的原则随机分为4个剂量组,即阴性对照组、试验Ⅰ(5 000 mg/kg体重)、试验Ⅱ(1 000 mg/kg体重)和试验Ⅲ组(200 mg/kg体重)。试验期为30 d。结果表明:试验剂量为200~1 000 mg/kg体重时,约氏乳杆菌对大鼠体增重、总采食量、饲料转化率、血液学指标和病理学指标的影响无显著性差异(P>0.05);试验剂量为5 000 mg/kg体重时,谷草转氨酶、血糖、总胆固醇差异不显著(P>0.05);与其他剂量组相比,大鼠的体增重和总采食量显著降低(P<0.05),但饲料转化率无显著差异(P>0.05);谷丙转氨酶水平显著降低(P<0.05),白蛋白和总蛋白显著增高(P<0.05);雌性大鼠尿素氮和雄性大鼠肌酐显著增高(P<0.05)。综合分析,约氏乳杆菌剂量低于1 000 mg/kg体重时,对大鼠平均日增重、血液指标及脏器指数无影响;约氏乳杆菌剂量高于5 000 mg/kg体重时,对大鼠脏器指数有影响。     

Neuropathologic findings of bromethalin toxicosis in the cat.

Ten random source male domestic shorthair cats, 2 to 6 years old and 3.0-4.4 kg body weight, were each given a single oral dose (1.5 mg/kg) of bromethalin (cat Nos. 1-5) or bait vehicle carrier (cat Nos. 6-10). Bromethalin-dosed cats developed a toxic syndrome characterized by ataxia, focal motor seizures, vocalization, decerebrate posture, decreased conscious proprioception, recumbency, depression, and semicoma. Bromethalin-dosed cats were euthanatized if seizure activity or hindlimb paralysis developed. Survival times were 48 hours (cat No. 1), 89 hours (cat No. 2), 90 hours (cat No. 3), and 97 hours (cat No. 4). Control cats (cat Nos. 6-10) and one bromethalin-dosed cat (cat No. 5) were euthanatized on day 20 after dosing. Spongy change (edema--characterized by the formation of vacuoles in extracellular spaces and myelin lamellae), hypertrophied fibrous astrocytes, and hypertrophied oligodendrocytes were observed in the white matter of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, spinal cord, and optic nerve of all bromethalin-dosed cats. Spongy change occasionally extended into contiguous cerebellar Purkinje cell layer and cerebral cortical gray matter. The severity of lesions varied among cats but was most pronounced in cat No. 5 (480 hours after dosing). A leukocytic inflammatory response, gitter cell (macrophage) response, or axonal degeneration was not observed in the vacuolated areas. Ultrastructural findings included separation of myelin lamellae at the interperiod lines with the formation of intramyelinic vacuoles (intramyelinic edema), rupture and coalescence of intramyelinic vacuoles into larger extracellular spaces (spongy change), and pronounced cytosolic edema of astrocytes and oligodendroglial cells.     

Effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation before and after oral acetaminophen challenge in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of lipoic acid, vitamin E, and cysteine before and after oxidant challenge in cats. ANIMALS: 24 sexually intact adult cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were allocated into 4 equal groups. For 25 weeks, group A was fed a control dry diet and groups B, C, and D received this diet supplemented with vitamin E (2200 U/kg [dry matter basis {DMB}]) plus cysteine (9.5 g/kg [DMB]), lipoate (150 mg/kg [DMB]), or all 3 antioxidants together, respectively. Weights were measured every 3 days and venous blood obtained every 5 weeks for CBC; serum biochemical analyses; lymphocyte blastogenesis; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration; and concentrations of plasma protein carbonyl, 8-OH d-guanosine, blood glutathione, plasma amino acid, lipoate, and dihydrolipoate. At 15 weeks, all cats received acetaminophen (9 mg/kg, PO, once), clinical effects were observed, and methemoglobin concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Lymphocyte blastogenesis increased transiently in group C and D cats. After acetaminophen administration, all groups had transient increases in methemoglobin within 4 hours and mild, brief facial edema; group C had decreased glutathione concentration and increased 8-OH d-guanosine concentration versus controls; and protein carbonyl concentration increased least for group B. Plasma lipoate and dihydrolipoate concentrations peaked by week 10 for groups C and D. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Lipoate, vitamin E, and cysteine did not have synergistic effects. Lipoate supplementation (150 mg/kg [DMB]) did not act as an antioxidant but appeared to enhance oxidant effects of acetaminophen. Vitamin E plus cysteine had protective effects.     

Influence of phenytoin on isoproterenol-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats

A study was designed to determine whether phenytoin (PHE) prevents the myocardial necrosis and subsequent fibrosis produced by isoproterenol (ISO). Seven groups of female rats of the Wistar strain were used. Rats in groups 1 and 5 served as controls. Rats in group 3 were injected SC with 85 mg of ISO/kg of body weight for 2 consecutive days. Rats in groups 2 and 6 received 100 mg of PHE/kg orally. Rats in groups 4 and 7 received both PHE and ISO. There were 6 to 9 rats/group. Effects of ISO and PHE were evaluated gravimetrically, histologically, and electrocardiographically. Heart weight/body weight ratios for each group receiving ISO, with or without PHE, were greater than for groups not receiving ISO (P less than 0.05). Light microscopic examination of heart sections of rats given ISO alone or ISO + PHE revealed multiple and diffuse areas of fibrosis. Fibrosis in hearts from rats receiving PHE + ISO was less severe than that in hearts from rats receiving ISO alone, but the difference was not statistically significant. Electrocardiographic changes of statistical significance were not observed in rats receiving any compound (alone or in combination), when compared with the control groups of equal age.     

硒对STZ诱发糖尿病大鼠骨密度影响的研究初报

比较了在低硒饲料的基础上补充不同形态硒对糖尿病大鼠骨密度的影响。健康SD大鼠 1 2 8只 ,体重 50～ 60 g,随机分为 4组 ,每组 32只 ,雌雄各半 ,其中Ⅰ组为低硒对照组 (饲料含硒量 0 0 37mg/kg) ;Ⅱ组为补充亚硒酸钠组 (饲料含硒量 0 3mg/kg) ;Ⅲ组为补充富硒麦芽组(饲料含硒量 0 3mg/kg) ;Ⅳ组为补充富硒酵母组 (饲料含硒量 0 3mg/kg)。Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组的饲料均是在Ⅰ组低硒饲料的基础上分别添加适量的亚硒酸钠、富硒麦芽、富硒酵母后配制而成。喂饲 5周后 ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组用链脲佐菌素 (streptozotocin ,STZ)按 60mg/kg腹腔注射诱发糖尿病 ,继续饲喂 6周。用单光子吸收法测定各组大鼠的肱骨、股骨、胫骨、桡骨的骨密度。结果表明 :①STZ致糖尿病大鼠的骨密度随时间的延长有逐渐下降的趋势。Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ补硒组大鼠可以在一定时间内延缓STZ致糖尿病大鼠的骨密度下降。在此期间骨密度的下降以肱骨出现最早 ,股骨次之 ,桡骨、胫骨再次之。②饲料补硒组糖尿病大鼠的肱骨、股骨中硒的含量较饲料低硒组糖尿病大鼠的肱骨、股骨中硒的含量显著提高。③补充硒的形态 ,即有机硒 (富硒麦芽、富硒酵母 )或无机硒 (亚硒酸钠 )对糖尿病大鼠肱骨、股骨、胫骨、桡骨的骨密度影响差异不显著。     

Promotion of liver and kidney carcinogenesis by ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) in male Wistar rats

Tumor-promoting effects of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) were investigated in a 2-stage carcinogenesis bioassay with regard to hepatic and renal carcinogenesis in rats. Male 6-week-old Wistar rats were given drinking water containing N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nitrosamine (EHEN), as an initiator, at a dose of 500 ppm for 2 weeks. Starting one week thereafter, the animals were administered ETBE at dose levels of 0 (control), 100, 300, 500 or 1,000 mg/kg/day by gavage for 19 weeks from week 4 to 22. Necropsy of all rats was performed at week 23, and livers and kidneys were examined histopathologically. Incidences of hepatocellular adenomas, and those of combined hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas were significantly elevated in rats given 1,000 mg/kg/day ETBE, but not 100‒500 mg/kg/day ETBE, and there was a significant increase in the average numbers of lesions. No significant differences in incidences and average numbers of renal tubule neoplasms were found in rats administered 100‒1,000 mg/kg/day ETBE. However, the average numbers of atypical tubule hyperplasias, considered to be preneoplastic lesions, were significantly increased in rats given ETBE at 1,000 mg/kg/day, but not in rats given 500 mg/kg/day or lower doses. Thus, these results imply that ETBE has hepatic and renal tumor-promoting activities that affect EHEN-induced carcinogenesis in male rats, and the no-observed-effect level is 500 mg/kg/day under the present experimental conditions.     

Toxicologic assessments of a commercial polybrominated biphenyl mixture in the rat.

A polybrominated biphenyl fire retardant (Firemaster FF-1) was responsible for the widespread environmental contamination and animal losses in Michigan during 1973 and 1974. In Fischer 344/N rats orally given 30,100,300, and 1,000 mg/kg (5 days/week, 22 total doses) for 4.5 weeks and observed for 90 days after the start of treatment, the LD50 was determined to be 65 mg/kg/day (total 1.43 g/kg) for the female rat and 149 mg/kg/day (total 3.28 g/kg) for the male. All female rats given the dosage of 100 mg/kg/day (22 doses, total 2.20 g/kg) died between 41 and 53 days after the start of treatment, whereas 38% of the males died between 50 and 73 days. Pathologic changes in treated rats were large liver, accentuation of the hepatic lobular markings, and atrophy of thymus and spleen. Microscopically, hepatic changes were characterized by congestion, fatty metamorphosis, and multifocal liquefactive necrosis. Male rats given 100 mg/kg/day and dying after 90 days had subacute to chronic hepatitis with marked focal proliferation of bile ducts. Exposure to Firemaster FF-1 may produce atypical liver nodules in the rat as early as 6 months after they were first given the preparation. Marked hepatotoxic effect persisted in surviving rats when examined after 6 months.     

Concordance between Results of Medium-term Liver Carcinogenesis Bioassays and Long-term Findings for Carcinogenic 2-Nitropropane and Non-carcinogenic1-Nitropropane in F344 Rats

This study was conducted to determine the concordance of results for a pair of structural isomers, 2-nitropropane (2-NP) and 1-nitropropane (1-NP), using the rat medium-term liver carcinogenesis bioassay (Ito test) and previously published long-term carcinogenicity tests. Male F344 rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg b.w.) to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis. After 2 weeks, they received per os 0, 0.8, 4 or 20 mg/kg/day of 2-NP or 1-NP six times a week and were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3. Non-initiated groups receiving 0 or 20 mg/kg/day were also included. The animals were sacrificed for quantitative analysis of GST-P-positive foci at week 8. With the highest dose of 2-NP, significantly increased numbers and areas of GST-P-positive foci were demonstrated as compared with the respective control but were not noted with 1-NP. In the non-DEN-initiated groups, many small GST-P-positive foci of less than 0.2 mm in diameter were also induced in the rats treated with 2-NP at 20 mg/kg/day but were lacking with 1-NP. These results strongly support that 2-NP is a complete hepatocarcinogen with a potent initiation activity, whereas 1-NP is not.     

Effects of ronnel on growth, endocrine function and blood measurements in steers and rats

Four feeding trials were conducted to determine (1) how the organophosphate ronnel affects thyroid and adrenal circulating hormone levels and blood profile measurements of beef steers and (2) whether the effects of ronnel observed in beef steers could be produced in growing rats. In trial 1, four groups of eight steers each were given either no ronnel or 4 mg ronnel/kg body weight daily in diets fed at either limited (1.8% of body weight) or ad libitum intake. After 7 weeks, intake levels, but not ronnel treatments, were reversed during a 1-week transition period, and feeding was continued for another 7 weeks. In trial 2, four groups of six steers each were given 0, 44, 88 or 176 ppm ronnel premixed in diets fed ad libitum for 18 weeks. Actual ronnel intakes averaged 0, 1.01, 2.12 and 4.73 mg/kg body weight daily in trial 2. In trials 3 and 4 , growth and intake were measured in 64 and 32 growing Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, fed levels of ronnel ranging from 0 to 100 ppm in the diet. In trial 3, blood plasma was analyzed at various times for triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), cholesterol and total lipid content. In trial 1, the concentration of Plasma T4 was 1.31 times higher in steers fed ronnel that in control steers. In trial 2, plasma T4 was 1.30 times higher in steers fed 176 ppm ronnel, the level that improved growth, than in steers fed the lower ronnel levels. Circulating levels of T3, cortisol and aldosterone were similar for both control and ronnel-fed steers. Serum cholesterol concentrations were consistently higher in ronnel-fed steers. The data indicated that the growth-promoting effect of ronnel in steers may be associated with a shift in thyroid function. Effects of ronnel in steers were not observed in rats, demonstrating a species difference between steers and rats.     

Effects of low-dose aspirin and specific thromboxane synthetase inhibition on whole blood platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate secretion in healthy dogs.

Platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion in response to arachidonic acid (10 microM) or collagen (5 micrograms/ml) were compared in healthy, adult female Beagles treated with low-dosage aspirin (3.5 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h for 7 treatments) or with CGS 12970, a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (10 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h for 10 treatments). Platelet aggregation was assessed in whole blood by use of an electrical impedance method. Baseline values obtained prior to treatment served as controls. Addition of arachidonic acid to blood from nontreated dogs resulted in significantly (P less than 0.001) increased impedance, but had no effect in blood from dogs treated with either aspirin or CGS 12970. Treatment with CGS 12970 or aspirin significantly (P less than 0.001) decreased platelet ATP secretion in response to arachidonic acid, compared with baseline values; however ATP secretion in aspirin-treated dogs was significantly (P less than 0.01) less than ATP secretion in CGS 12970-treated dogs. Differences in platelet aggregation were not observed between control dogs and aspirin- or CGS 12970-treated dogs in response to collagen as an aggregant, however, collagen-induced platelet ATP secretion was significantly (P less than 0.001) decreased in dogs treated with aspirin, compared with control values and values from dogs treated with CGS 12970. In dogs treated orally with 0.1, 0.2, 1.0, or 10 mg of CGS 12970/kg, dose-dependent inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation was observed, with impedance changes not observed at the 10-mg/kg dosage and normal platelet aggregation associated with the 0.1-mg/kg dosage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of methotrexate on rostral migratory stream in newborn rats

Two-day-old rats were treated with subcutaneous injections of methotrexate (MTX) 5 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg, and their rostral migratory streams (RMS) were examined time-dependently. MTX treatment increased pyknotic and TUNEL-positive cells and decreased mitotic and phospho-Histone H3-positive cells at almost all time points in the vertical arm, elbow and horizontal arm regions of the RMS. There were more TUNEL-positive cells ratio in the MTX 150 mg/kg group than in the MTX 5 mg/kg group. Treatment with MTX 150 mg/kg decreased the cellularity in the vertical arm region on Postnatal day (PD) 4, but that with the MTX 5 mg/kg did not. TUNEL-positive cells ratio was the highest in the vertical arm region, followed by elbow and horizontal regions in both MTX-treated groups. TUNEL-positive cells ratio in the vertical arm and elbow regions reached their peaks on PD 4 in both MTX-treated groups, and both MTX-treatments significantly decreased Phospho-Histone H3-positive cells ratio on PDs 2.5 and 3 in the vertical arm, elbow and horizontal arm regions. The phospho-Histone H3-positive cells ratio in the vertical arm region recovered on PD4 in the MTX 150 mg/kg group. These findings suggested that RMS required a great amount of folic acid on PD 2 and that the folic acid-requirement differed depending on the anatomical region of the RMS. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the effect of MTX on the RMS and the necessity of the folic acid metabolism on RMS development in newborn rats.     

Effect of captopril on the progression of induced pyelonephritis in the rat

The effect of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, was studied in rats subjected to Escherichia coli pyelonephritis. Eight weeks after pyelonephritis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats, the rats were randomly assigned to treatment groups based on urinary protein excretion. In experiment 1, rats were given captopril, 50 mg/kg of body weight, or saline solution via daily intraperitoneal injection. To eliminate complications with captopril-induced peritonitis, experiment 2 was performed in which rats were given the same treatment by daily gavage. In both experiments, 24-hour urinary protein excretion in the saline-treated rats was significantly greater than that of the captopril-treated rats after 12 weeks of treatment (P less than 0.05). Plasma urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, and endogenous creatinine clearance did not differ between treatment groups during the course of therapy in experiment 1. There were no differences in these values in experiment 2, except at week 8 of treatment when the captopril-treated rats had significantly lower plasma creatinine and higher endogenous creatinine clearance than did the saline-treated rats (P less than 0.05). There was also no difference between treatment groups in the degree of morphologic renal damage based on light microscopic evaluation of kidneys at the end of treatment.     

肉仔鸡饲粮中锌需要量的研究

取1日龄AA肉仔鸡600只,公、母各300只,随机分为10组,公、母各5组,每组4个重复,分别喂以含锌40mg/kg的基础日粮和含锌50、70、90和110mg/kg的添加锌日粮,以研究肉仔鸡对锌的需要量。试验期8周。结果表明,6周龄前日粮锌各水平对公、母鸡的体增重和饲料报酬无明显差异(P>0.05),40mg/kg锌可满足其生长需要。7周龄后,虽然公、母鸡分别在日粮含锌50和90mg/kg时可达到最大体增重,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。对于组织中的锌含量,不同组织、不同生长阶段对日粮补锌的反应不同。公、母鸡血液中锌含量并不随日粮锌含量的增加而升高;肾脏锌含量变化也不大;比较敏感的组织是胰和肝。组织锌含量依次为胰>肝>肾>血。血液中的碱性磷酸酶活性公、母鸡不同,但总的看来,随日龄增加而降低。铜锌超氧化物歧化酶(CuZnSOD)的活性不同组织、不同生长阶段和不同性别是不同的,母鸡比公鸡的酶活性高。根据各项指标的测定结果和经济效益综合分析,建议肉仔鸡对锌的需要量为40～50mg/kg。     

Mead acid supplementation does not rescue rats from cataract and retinal degeneration induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

Fatty acids and their derivatives play a role in the response to ocular disease. Our current study investigated the effects of dietary mead acid (MA, 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid) supplementation on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced cataract and retinal degeneration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Experiment 1 was designed to inhibit cataract formation, with the dams fed a 2.4% MA or basal (<0.01% MA) diet during lactational periods. On postnatal day 7, male pups received a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 50 mg/kg MNU or vehicle. Lens opacity and morphology were examined 7 and 14 days after the MNU injection. Experiment 2 was designed to inhibit retinal degeneration and was performed with female postweaning rats. In this experiment, dams were fed the 2.4% MA or basal diet during the lactational periods. Thereafter, the female pups were continuously fed the same diets during their postweaning periods. On postnatal day 21 (at weaning), pups received a single ip injection of 50 mg/kg MNU. Retinal morphology was examined 7 days after the MNU injection. In experiment 3, six-week-old female rats were fed the 2.4% MA or basal diet starting at one week before the MNU injection and were then continuously fed the same diets until sacrifice. Rats at 7 weeks of age were given a single ip injection of 40 mg/kg MNU, and the retina was then examined morphologically one week after the MNU injection. In experiment 1, mature cataract was found in all of the MNU-treated groups, with or without MA supplementation. In experiments 2 and 3, atrophy of both the peripheral and central outer retina occurred in all rats exposed to MNU, with or without MA supplementation, respectively. The severities of the cataracts and retinal atrophy in the rats were similar regardless of MA supplementation. Dietary mead acid, which is used as a substitute in essential fatty acid deficiency in the body, does not modify MNU-induced cataract and retinal degeneration in rat models.     

Susceptibility to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal degeneration in different rat strains

To evaluate the potential role of genetic background in the susceptibility to retinal degeneration induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), female rats of the Sprague-Dawley (SD), Long-Evans (LE) and Copenhagen (CH) strains were administered 50 mg/kg MNU or saline at 7 weeks of age. Retina morphology and morphometric analysis of all rats was performed 7 days after MNU administration. Atrophy of both the peripheral and central outer retina occurred in all rat strains exposed to MNU. Decreased photoreceptor cell ratio and increased retinal damage ratio were observed. The severities of the retinal atrophy were similar among all three rat strains. In conclusion, MNU-induced photoreceptor degeneration developed consistently in all three strains regardless of the absence (SD rats) or presence (LE and CH rats) of melanin in the retina, suggesting that genetic and melanin factors did not affect photoreceptor cell death after MNU.     

Modifications of azoxymethane-induced carcinogenesis and 90-day oral toxicities of 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone as a radiolytic product of stearic acid in F344 rats

A 90-day oral toxicity test in rats was performed to evaluate the toxicity of 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (2-tDCB), a unique radiolytic product of stearic acid. Six-week-old male and female F344 rats (n=15/group) were given 2-tDCB at concentrations of 0, 12, 60 and 300 ppm in a powder diet for 13 weeks. Slight dose-dependent increases in serum total protein and albumin in male rats were found, but these changes were not considered to be a toxic effect. The fasting, but not non-fasting, blood glucose levels of the male rats in the 300 ppm group and female rats in the 60 and 300 ppm groups were lower than those of the controls. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed dose-dependent accumulation of 2-tDCB in adipose tissue, notably in males. Next, we performed an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced two-stage carcinogenesis study. After injection of 6-week-old male F344 rats (n=30/group) once a week for 3 weeks, the animals received 2-tDCB at concentrations of 0, 10, 50 and 250 ppm in a powder diet for 25 weeks. The incidences of colon tumors for the 2-tDCB dosages were 34%, 45%, 40% and 37%, respectively, and were not statistically significant. These data suggest that 2-tDCB shows no toxic or tumor-modifying effects under the present conditions, and that the no-observed-adverse-effect level for 2-tDCB is 300 ppm in both sexes, equivalent to 15.5 mg/kg b.w./day in males and 16.5 mg/kg b.w./day in females.     

岷山红三叶异黄酮对去卵巢大鼠生长和免疫及抗氧化指标的影响

为研究岷山红三叶异黄酮的促生长、免疫及抗氧化作用,选择80只SD(Sprague-Dawley)雌性大鼠,随机分为8组,每组10只,其中1～7组为去卵巢+红三叶异黄酮组, 分别按320,160,80,40,20,10和0 mg/(kg BW·d)的量灌胃红三叶异黄酮,第8组为假手术组,灌服等量生理盐水。结果表明,1)红三叶异黄酮对去卵巢雌性大鼠生长有一定的抑制作用,但不存在量效关系。2)低剂量的红三叶异黄酮具有提高大鼠T淋巴细胞转化率的作用,可以作为畜禽免疫增强剂,提高畜禽免疫力,以10 mg/(kg BW·d)的添加量比较适宜。3)岷山红三叶异黄酮具有明显的抗氧化作用,适量(>80 mg/kg BW·d)添加可降低血清CHO(total cho1esterol, 总胆固醇)、HDL(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇)和LDL(low density lipoprotein cholesterol,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇)浓度,提高血清SOD(superoxide dismutase, 超氧化物歧化酶)含量。4)岷山红三叶异黄酮具有弱的雌激素作用和较好的使用安全性。5)综合各指标,岷山红三叶异黄酮的适宜添加量为80 mg/(kg BW·d)。     

Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract improved reproduction capacity and behavioral activity in rats exposed to immobilization stress

This study was conducted to evaluate the Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on fertility capacity and behavioral features in rats exposed to immobilization stress. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups; Control; Stressed rats; and Stressed rats received 50, 100 and/or 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis hydroalcoholic extract. To induce stress, rats were immobilized for 49 days and received S. officinalis extract orally. On day 56, we analyzed behavioral tests and evaluated reproduction capacity by measuring LH, FSH, and testosterone. Sperm parameters such as motility, viability, and total count were also determined. Bodyweight changes were also calculated on day 56. Male rats from different groups were mated with healthy female rats. Data showed that the use of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract in stressed rats increased bodyweight gain and improved behavioral disorders compared to control‐matched groups (p < .05). Besides, administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw S. officinalis extract had the potential to improve sperm parameters and fertility capacity in stressed rats (p < .05). Decreased testosterone levels were blunted in the stressed rats that received plant extract coincided with the reduction of LH and FSH compared to control‐matched stressed rats (p < .05). We found neutral effects in stressed rats that received 50 mg/kg bw plant extract. Collectively, the hydroalcoholic extract of S. officinalis could improve the fertility capacity and behavioral features under stressful conditions in a dose‐dependent manner.     

Effect of dietary rare earth elements on growth performance and blood parameters of rats

Rare earth elements (REE) have been shown to influence growth performance in animal production, especially in pigs. In the present study, the effect of oral administration of rare earth elements on growing rats was investigated. Pure LaCl3 or an REE mixture containing 38% of LaCl3, 52% of CeCl3, 3% of PrCl3 and 7% of chlorides of other REE were used at two different concentrations as supplements to the diets. Fifty male Wistar rats at 4 weeks of age were allotted to five experimental groups: a control group; a La-low group and a La-high group with 75 and 150 mg/kg LaCl3.6H2O, respectively; a REE-low and an REE-high group with 75 and 150 mg/kg REE mixture, respectively. The animals were housed in individual pens. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. After 18 days the oral supplementation of LaCl3.6H2O or of the REE mixture improved daily body weight gain (BWG) by up to 5 or 9% (p > 0.05), respectively. LaCl3.6H2O as well as the REE mixture had positive effects (p < 0.05) on feed conversion ratio (FCR) with a decreased ratio by up to 8 and 11%, respectively. Supplementation of REE also had clear effects on blood serum parameters. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) increased significantly (p < 0.05). At the same time, blood glucose level decreased and blood creatine level increased significantly (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in cholesterol, total protein, albumin and urea nitrogen among the groups. There was no significant difference in triglyceride level between the control and those REE groups, however, a significantly lower (p < 0.01) triglyceride level was found in the 150 mg/kg REE mixture group compared with that in 75 mg/kg REE mixture group and the 150 mg/kg LaCl3.6H2O group. The results suggest that oral supplementation of REE improves growth performance in rats as in pigs. In this respect, concentration and type of REE supplemented to the diets are two important factors herein.