Physiological and biochemical changes of females of Piracanjuba,subjected to induced reproduction

The aim of this experiment was to compare the level of fish female stress during induced reproduction with pituitary extract by two different methods, natural and semiextruded. The reproductive efficiency was 62.5% in the seminatural treatment and 100% in the extruded. Obtained egg volume was 5200 ml and 4000 ml, for seminatural and extruded treatments respectively. The mean number of eggs was 46.7 for the seminatural and 52.0 and for the extruded treatment. The percentage of viable eggs was, respectively, 87.2% and 8.17% for the natural treatment and extruded semimethods. Blood samples were collected to quantify cortisol and glucose levels, as well as red cell series and lymphocyte count. Fishes submitted to induction procedures showed elevated cortisol and glucose levels, compared to the control animals. The results for haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count showed no significant differences among groups. Significant differences found in the number of lymphocytes and monocytes suggest the general adaptation syndrome. Our results suggest the reproductive induction process with extrusion of gametes as a more stressful method than seminatural reproduction process.     

荆芥的生长、渗透调节和抗氧化能力对干旱胁迫的响应

采用盆栽控水试验,研究荆芥的生长、渗透调节和抗氧化能力在不同干旱程度[基质相对含水量分别为5%~10%(重度干旱)、45%~50%(中度干旱)和85%~90%(正常灌溉)]和不同干旱时间(15、30和45 d)下的响应。结果表明,随着干旱程度的加深,荆芥的生长受到抑制,生长速率、叶干重和叶绿素含量降低,比叶质量增大;叶中渗透调节物质的积累增加,可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸和Na⁺含量增大;叶片抗氧化能力受到影响,其中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在胁迫15和30 d时逐渐增强,45 d时逐渐减弱,过氧化物酶(POD)活性则在胁迫30和45 d时逐渐增强,总酚和总黄酮的含量在胁迫15 d逐渐增大,分别在30和45 d时中度干旱下的积累量最高。随着干旱胁迫时间的延长,荆芥叶的渗透调节作用受到影响:可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白含量升高,脯氨酸、K⁺、Na⁺和Ca²⁺的含量降低,SOD和CAT活性先增强后减弱,POD活性持续增强,总酚和总黄酮的含量先增加后趋于不变。荆芥能对干旱胁迫做出适应性应答,对缺水环境具有一定的耐受性,这为荆芥的规范化栽培和用水管理提供了依据。     

Induction of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rats chronically exposed to cypermethrin through dermal application

Present study was undertaken to study the effect of cypermethrin on oxidative stress after chronic dermal application. The insecticide was applied dermally at 50 mg/kg body weight in different groups of Wistar rats of either sex weighing 150~200 g. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in catalase activity was observed after 30 days of exposure. However, the superoxide dismutase activity declined significantly after 60 days of exposure. The activity of glutathione peroxidase and blood glutathione levels declined significantly (p < 0.05) after 30 days of cypermethrin dermal application. However, the activity of glutathione S-transferase increased significantly (p < 0.05) in all groups after 60 days of dermal exposure. Significant increase in lipid peroxidation was observed from 30 days onwards and reached a peak after 120 days of application.     

Physiological responses of dietary tryptophan fed Labeo rohita to temperature and salinity stress

Two experiments were conducted to elucidate the possible effects of dietary L‐tryptophan (TRP) in Labeo rohita based on growth performance and physio‐biochemical responses. In the experiment I, a 60‐day feeding trial was carried out to elucidate the effects of dietary TRP enrichment on growth performance and physio‐biochemical responses. In the experiment II, the TRP pre‐fed L. rohita, from experiment I, was exposed to temperature and salinity stress to evaluate stress‐mitigating efficacy of TRP. In L. rohita, dietary supplementation of TRP showed significant effect on weight gain percentage and feed conversion ratio but not on blood glucose. A significant increase in RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio upon TRP supplementation was observed and was positively correlated with growth performance. The results of experiment II indicated that weight gain percentage, serum T3 and T4 levels were significantly reduced in groups that were exposed to temperature and salinity stress and fed diets without TRP supplementation. However, dietary supplementation of TRP significantly augmented weight gain percentage in stress‐exposed groups. Tryptophan supplementation helped in bringing back T3 and T4 levels comparable with control. A significant increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, Adenosine triphosphatase, blood glucose and serum cortisol was observed in temperature‐ and salinity‐exposed groups fed without TRP‐supplemented diets. However, TRP supplementation was found to be effective in restoring the above parameters. The results of these experiments suggest that dietary TRP supplementation augments growth, lowers energy demand and helps in mitigating thermal and salinity stress in L. rohita.     

Distinct and combined effects of acute immobilization and chronic isolation stress on MAO activity and antioxidative protection in the heart of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

The heart is an organ especially sensitive to the sympathetic overstimulation and therefore to the influence of stressors and hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of two distinct types of stressors, acute immobilization (2 h) and chronic isolation stress (21 days), as well as their combined effect on the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO), superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT) and the ascorbic acid (AA) content in the heart of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The results obtained show that in basal conditions heart MAO and CAT activity (p < 0.05), as well as AA concentration (p < 0.01) were higher in SHR than in normotensive ones. The acute immobilization significantly decreased heart MAO activity in both examined strains (p < 0.01). On the other hand, chronic isolation, separately or in combination with immobilization, did not affect this enzyme, in the heart of either hypertensive or normotensive rats, which was associated with the reduced antioxidative protection (p < 0.01, p < 0.05).     

Effects of enzymatically treated Artemisia annua L. on growth performance and some blood parameters of broilers exposed to heat stress

To evaluate the effects of enzymatically treated Artemisia annua L. (EA) on growth performance and some blood parameters of broilers exposed to heat stress (HS), 320 22‐day‐old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted into five groups with eight replicates of eight birds each. Broilers in the control group were housed at 22 ± 1°C and fed the basal diet. Broilers in the HS, HS‐EA_0.75, HS‐EA_1.00 and HS‐EA_1.25 groups were reared under HS (34 ± 1°C for 8 h/day and 22 ± 1°C for 16 h/day), and fed basal diet with 0, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 g/kg EA, respectively. The experiment ended at 42 days. Dietary 1.00 and 1.25 g/kg EA decreased blood pH and elevated body weight gain, feed intake and carcass yield compared to the HS group. Broilers fed EA diets had lower serum concentrations of malondialdehyde and corticosterone and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and higher serum total superoxide dismutase activity, tri‐iodothyronine concentration and tri‐iodothyronine/thyroxine than the HS group. Serum catalase activity in HS‐EA_1.00 and HS‐EA_1.25 groups and activity to inhibit hydroxyl in the HS‐EA_1.00 group were higher than the HS group. In conclusion, dietary 0.75–1.25 g/kg EA addition alleviated HS induced impairments in broilers.     

Fish oil supplementation improved liver phospholipids fatty acid composition and parameters of oxidative stress in male wistar rats

In the present study, we examined the effects of fish oil supplementation in 3 months old male Wistar rats on changes in plasma and liver lipid metabolism and oxidative stress parameters. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups of ten animals: control group and intervention group, treated for 6 weeks with fish oil capsules containing 45 mg eicosapentanoic acid and 30 mg docosahexanoic acid. After intervention, biochemical parameters in plasma [triglycerides (TG), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol, urea, creatinine and uric acid], fatty acid (FAs) profile of liver phospholipids and parameters of oxidative stress in liver [activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and paraoxonase (PON1), concentration of nitrites, lipid peroxidation (LPO), free thiol (SH) groups and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) izoenzymes were determined. Treatment with fish oil improved FAs profile of liver phospholipids, increasing n‐3 FAs and decreasing n‐6/n‐3 ratio. Significant decrease in plasma TG and LDL concentration, and increase in the level of HDL and uric acid were found in intervention group at the end of the study. Catalase activity, LPO, and nitrites concentration in liver were significantly decreased, after the supplementation, together with elevated PON1 activity. Applied treatment significantly improved plasma lipid profile, liver FAs composition and parameters of oxidative stress in male Wistar rats.     

Toxicological effects and recovery of the corneal epithelium in Cyprinus carpio communis Linn. exposed to monocrotophos: an scanning electron microscope study

This study was conducted based on the evidence of fish habitats in North India being affected by organophosphate pesticides draining from agricultural fields into bodies of water, especially during the rainy season. Various tissues of fish such as scales, gills ovaries, kidney, and liver have been studied from the toxicological point of view, but the toxicological effects of aquatic pollutants on fish cornea have not been investigated to date. We conducted comparative toxicological studies on the cornea of Cyprinus carpio communis using two sublethal (0.038 and 0.126 ppm) concentrations of monocrotophos pesticide for 30 days. Corneas from all the groups were evaluated by a scanning electron microscope. The fish exposed to the monocrotophos pesticide developed corneal necrosis due to the formation of crystalloid‐like structures, thinning and shrinkage of microridges on the corneal epithelium. After 30 days, fish from the monocrotophos‐treated tank were transferred to normal environmental conditions. After 60 days under natural condition, epithelial cells did not fully recover. In conclusion, exposure to monocrotophos induces irreversible changes in the cornea of C. carpio communis. As fish and mammalian visual systems share many similarities, the reported finding may offer useful insights for further toxicological and ophthalmological studies in humans.     

Rno‐miR‐425‐5p targets the DLST and SLC16A1 genes to reduce liver damage caused by excessive energy mobilization under cold stress

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of single‐stranded non‐coding small RNA molecules, which participate in the regulation of many physiological processes, and play a crucial role in cancer, metabolism and other processes. Rno‐miR‐425‐5p has been shown to play a role in the response to cold stress. To explore the mechanism by which rno‐miR‐425‐5p regulates the response to cold stress, we analysed the candidate target genes of rno‐miR‐425‐5p. After verification in rat hepatocyte BRL cells and in rat liver tissue, we identified several target genes that were altered in expression in response to cold stress. In rat liver tissue, the expression of rno‐miR‐425‐5p was significantly increased and the expression levels of target genes DLST and SLC16A1 were decreased under cold stress. The miRNA and mRNA levels were analysed by quantitative real‐time PCR and the protein levels were detected by Western blot analysis. Combined with the results of bioinformatic analysis, we concluded that rno‐miR‐425‐5p reduced the expression of DLST and SLC16A1, inhibiting energy release from the tricarboxylic acid cycle and preventing the liver from being injured by excessive energy mobilization.     

芝麻素对氟胁迫下斑马鱼头部抗氧化功能和免疫相关酶活性的影响

为了探讨芝麻素对氟胁迫下斑马鱼头部抗氧化功能和非特异性免疫的影响,采用半静态法,将驯养后的斑马鱼,随机分为对照组(CK)、1 g/kg芝麻素组(S1)、2 g/kg芝麻素组(S2),80 mg/L氟胁迫组(F)、1 g/kg芝麻素组+80 mg/L氟胁迫组(FS1)、2 g/kg芝麻素组+80 mg/L氟胁迫组(FS2),分别在试验进行45、90 d时取斑马鱼头部,并对头部组织中的活性氧(ROS)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)进行测定。结果表明,与F组比较,饲粮中添加芝麻素的FS1和FS2组斑马鱼头部ROS、MDA含量明显下降(P<0.05),而SOD活性明显上升(P<0.05),免疫相关酶ACP和AKP活性明显上升(P<0.05)。由此可见,饵料中添加一定剂量的芝麻素后,可以在一定程度上缓解氟胁迫对斑马鱼头部造成的氧化应激和免疫毒性作用。     

Effect of arginine supplementation on the morphology and function of intestinal epithelia and serum concentrations of amino acids in pigs exposed to heat stress

The exposure of pigs to heat stress (HS) appears to damage their intestinal epithelia, affecting the absorption of amino acids (AAs). Arg is involved in the restoration of intestinal epithelial cells but HS reduces Arg intake. The effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on the morphology of intestinal epithelia, AA transporter gene expression, and serum concentration (SC) of free AAs in HS pigs was analyzed. Twenty pigs (25.3 ± 2.4 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: Control (0.81% Arg), wheat–soybean meal diet supplemented with l-Lys, l-Thr, dl-Met, and l-Trp, and the experimental diet where 0.16% free l-Arg was supplemented to a similar Control diet (+Arg). All pigs were individually housed and exposed to HS, fed ad libitum with full access to water. The ambient temperature (AT), recorded at 15-min intervals during the 21-d trial, ranged on average from 29.6 to 39.4 °C within the same day. Blood samples were collected on day 18 at 1600 hours (AT peak); serum was separated by centrifugation. At the end of the trial, five pigs per treatment were sacrificed to collect samples of mucosa scratched from each small intestine segment. The expression of AA transporters in intestinal mucosa and the SC of AAs were analyzed. Villi height (VH) was higher (P < 0.01) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum but the crypt depth did not differ between the Control and the +Arg pigs. Supplementation of l-Arg increased the mRNA coding for the synthesis of the cationic AA transporter b^0,+ (P < 0.01) and the neutral AA transporter B⁰ (P < 0.05) in the duodenum by approximately 5-fold and 3-fold, respectively, but no effect on mRNA abundance was observed in the jejunum and ileum. The supplementation of l-Arg increased serum Arg, His, Met, Thr, Trp, and urea (P < 0.05) and also tended to increase Val (P < 0.10) but did not affect Ile, Lys, Leu, and Phe. These results indicate that supplementing 0.16% l-Arg to the Control diet may help to improve the function of the small intestine epithelium, by increasing the VH, the abundance of AA transporters, and the SC of most indispensable AAs in pigs exposed to HS conditions. However, the lack of effect of supplemental Arg on both Lys SC and weight gain of pigs suggests that increasing the Lys content in the +Arg diet might be needed to improve the performance of HS pigs.     

Lipid status, paraoxonase-1 activity and metabolic parameters in serum of heifers and lactating cows related to oxidative stress

The objective of this study was to investigate serum lipids, metabolic parameters and activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1). The study was conducted on non-pregnant heifers with optimal health status and on healthy dairy cows in the period of intensive lactation, assuming that the energy and metabolic demands during lactation reduce anti-oxidative protection. Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in lactating cows than in heifers. Bilirubin concentration and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity were also significantly higher in lactating cows (P < 0.05), indicating increased hepatic efforts of cows to meet energy requirements for lactation. Significantly lower PON1 activity and PON1/HDL ratio in lactating cows compared to heifers (P < 0.05) showed that metabolic efforts during pregnancy, parturition and lactation influence PON1 activity due to oxidative stress. Concurrent increase in total and HDL-cholesterol during lactation indicated that the HDL particle is a major carrier of cholesterol in cows.     

The effects of early‐age thermal manipulation and daily short‐term fasting on performance and body temperatures in broiler exposed to heat stress

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thermal manipulation at 5 days of age and short‐term fasting during the warmest part of the day on responses to prolonged heat stress of broilers. A total of 240‐day‐old Ross 308 female broiler chicks were divided into three groups: control, thermal manipulation (chicks were exposed to 36 °C for 24 h at 5 days of age) and short‐term fasting during the warmest part of the day (10.00–17.00 h). Prolonged heat stress was induced daily from 28 to 42 days by heating until the ambient temperature reached 32–35 °C between 10.00 and 17.00 h. Both thermal manipulation and short‐term fasting resulted in a decrease in rectal temperatures and haematocrit values at 35 and 41 days of age. Thermal manipulation improved body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion. However, short‐term fasting caused a reduction in body weight and a deterioration in feed conversion. Short‐term fasting lowered the percentages of carcass, whereas thermal manipulation highered breast yield. Both thermal manipulation and short‐term fasting decreased heart mass and abdominal fat.     

Addition of palm olein to lard-supplemented diet indicates myocardial dysfunction and augments oxidative stress by authophagy-lysosome pathway in rats

This study evaluated a prolonged effect of palm oil addition to lard-supplemented diet (PLD) on the oxidative status, lysosomal enzyme activities, markers of hepatotoxicity and basic lipid profile in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received PLD (10% of total fat: 7.5% from palm oil and 2.5% from lard), and the control group received lard-supplemented diet (2.5% fat) from 28 days of age for 14 weeks. Histopathological evaluation of the liver from animals fed the PLD showed slight steatosis and signs of mild chronic inflammation. Reduction of extramedullary hematopoiesis and an increased ratio of red/white pulp were observed in the spleen. PLD induced oxidative stress (evaluated in the liver, heart, spleen, muscle and kidney) evidenced by an increase in conjugated dienes and malondialdehyde in all tissues except the muscle; protein carbonyl derivatives were increased as well. The changes in the antioxidant enzyme activities in the evaluated tissues were ambiguous except for the prominent increase in the heart. Lysosomal enzyme activities showed a tendency to increase in the heart and kidney and to decrease in the muscle and spleen. The De Ritis ratio, which is a biomarker of hepatotoxicity, was higher in the heart from animals fed the PLD. The palm oil addition to the lard-supplemented diet-induced prominent oxidative stress, particularly in myocardial tissue with involvement of the authophagy-lysosome pathway.     

甘草幼苗响应干旱胁迫的光合、抗氧化特性及转录组分析

为探究乌拉尔甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis)对干旱胁迫的生理及分子响应机制,本研究采用聚乙二醇6000 (polyethylene glycol 6000, PEG-6000)模拟干旱的方法,测定乌拉尔甘草幼苗光合指标和抗氧化酶活性,并进行转录组测序分析。结果表明：干旱胁迫至7 d时,甘草的净光合速率(net photosynthetic rate, Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance, Gs)、蒸腾速率(transpiration rate, Tr)到达最低值。相对叶绿素含量(soil and plant analyzer develotrnent, SPAD)表现为先上升后下降。干旱引起甘草的氧化应激,处理1 d时提高了叶片中过氧化氢酶(catalase, CAT)活性,降低了根中CAT活性。处理7 d时提高了根中过氧化物酶(peroxide, POD)活性,降低了根中超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase, SOD)活性。转录组分析结果显示,甘草地上部分和地下部分分别有差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes, DEGs) 7 500和5 298个;基因本体(gene ontology, GO)富集结果表明,地上和地下两部分的DEGs在三大类的分布基本一致,均被显著富集到细胞过程、代谢过程、细胞结构、催化活性、转导活性等功能;京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, KEGG)代谢途径富集分析表明,地上部分和地下部分DEGs均显著富集在转录因子、蛋白激酶、苯丙烷类生物合成和细胞色素P450等代谢途径。转录调控网络分析预测表明,ERF (ethylene responsive factor)、bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix)、NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC)、MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog)和WRKY 类转录因子可能与甘草次级代谢产物相关基因存在转录调控关系。综上,本研究揭示了干旱胁迫对甘草生理特性的影响,分析了不同部位基因的表达,可为今后研究甘草抗旱机制提供有价值的信息。     

Dietary supplementation with glutamine and γ‐aminobutyric acid improves growth performance and serum parameters in 22‐ to 35‐day‐old broilers exposed to hot environment

This study was designed using 360 21‐day‐old chicks to determine the influences of diet supplementation with glutamine (5 g/kg), γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA, 100 mg/kg) or their combinations on performance and serum parameters exposed to cycling high temperatures. From 22 to 35 days, the experimental groups (2 × 2) were subjected to circular heat stress by exposing them to 30–34 °C cycling, while the positive control group was exposed to 23 °C constant. The blood of broilers was collected to detect serum parameters on days 28 and 35. Compared with the positive control group, the cycling high temperature decreased (p < 0.05) the feed consumption, weight gain and serum total protein (TP), glucose, thyroxine (T4), insulin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamine, GABA and glutamate levels, while increased (p < 0.05) the serum triglyceride (TG), corticosterone (CS), glucagon (GN), creatine kinase (CK), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels during 22–35 days. However, dietary glutamine (5 g/kg) increased (p < 0.05) the feed consumption, weight gain and serum levels of glutamine, TP, insulin and ALP, but decreased (p < 0.05) the serum TG, CK, GOT, NOS and GPT levels. Diet supplemented with GABA also increased (p < 0.05) weight gain and the serum levels of TP, T4, ALP, GABA and glutamine. In addition, the significant interactions (p < 0.05) between glutamine and GABA were found in the feed consumption, weight gain and the serum ALP, CK, LDH, GABA, T3 and T4 levels of heat‐stressed chickens. This research indicated that dietary glutamine and GABA improved the antistress ability in performance and serum parameters of broilers under hot environment.     

Undernutrition in the parental and first generation provokes an organ‐specific response to oxidative stress on neonates of second filial generation of Wistar rats

Undernutrition induces an increase of the oxidative stress that can predispose offspring to various diseases in adulthood through epigenetic reprogramming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intergenerational undernutrition on protein oxidation and antioxidant defence response on liver, heart and brain of the second‐generation neonates (F₂) of undernourished rats. For this purpose, both parents in parental (F₀) and first generation (F₁) were fed with a low‐nutrient diet. Body mass and length decreased (p < 0.05) in F₀, F₁ and F₂ being the F₁ males who exhibited a greater mass loss. A decrease in plasma albumin concentration was observed in F₂ neonates (p < 0.05) and also a mass loss of liver, heart and brain (p < 0.05), although proportionally to body length reduction. Undernutrition increased levels of protein oxidation in liver and heart (p < 0.05) but not in brain (p > 0.05) while catalase activity increased only in brain (p < 0.05). In summary, intergenerational undernutrition modifies the antioxidant status through an organ‐specific response, on F₂ neonate rats, where the brain increased catalase activity to prevent a severe oxidative damage and support the vital functions of this key organ to maintain vital functions.