Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology最新文献

Holothuria arenicola is the most important and abundant sea cucumber species in the Mediterranean Sea on the Egyptian coast. This work aimed to investigate the prophylactic and the curative effects of H. arenicola extract HaE (200 mg/kg) on gastric mucosal damage following indomethacin and cold stress in healthy rats. Sixty-four rats were randomly divided into four main groups. Rats of the first group (8 rats/group) were administered distilled water orally (control group), rats of the second group (8 rats/group) were administered single oral dose of indomethacin (150 mg/kg) and exposed to cold stress (4 ± 1 °C) for 30 min to induce gastric ulcer (GU) model (ulcer group), rats of the third group, prophylactic group (24 rats/group) were treated with HaE and/or ranitidine (RAN) and then exposed to GU and rats of the fourth group, curative group (24 rats/group) were exposed firstly to GU and then treated with HaE and/or RAN. The results clearly indicate that pre-treatment with HaE and/or ranitidine significantly decreases the ulcer index, showing 72.50%, 53.11% and 80.56% ulceration inhibition, respectively. However, post-treatment with HaE and/or ranitidine significantly decreases the ulcer index, showing 51.66%, 62.41% and 67.78% ulceration inhibition, respectively. The results also showed that pre and post-treatment with HaE and/or RAN significantly decreased gastric malondialdehyde (MDA) level and enhanced reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. The results clearly indicate that pre-treatment with HaE is preferable.

Estrogen deficiency and insufficient calcium in diet in postmenopause create serious problems with resultant osteoporosis and fractures. In the present study, forty adult albino rats weighting 200–220 g were used and divided into five groups. Group 1, control group included non-ovariectomized untreated rats. Group 2, ovariectomized)OVX) rats. Group 3, OVX rats daily received CaCO₃ (27 mg/kg b.w.). Group 4, OVX rats daily received a mixture of herbs (sage, rosemary and thyme) (30 g/kg b.w.). Group 5, OVX rats daily received both herb mixture and CaCO₃. The results showed significant decrease in serum calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), total proteins (TP), calcitonin, bone mass density (BMD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) in OVX rats compared to the control group. While a significant increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) were recorded. Also the recorded data showed increases in femur, tibia and vertebral lipid peroxidation (MAD) content and the activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the ovariectomized rats. On the other hand, when OVX rats were fed on sage, rosemary and thyme supplemented diets or CaCO₃ in a single or in combination, the data recorded a significant improvement in all the above mentioned parameters. Finally, the results of this study indicated that the combination of common herbs (sage, rosemary and thyme) with calcium carbonate, was more effective in reduction and prevention of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. So, it can be concluded that consumption of mixed herbs supplemented diets might be considered as a functional food for retarding risks of osteoporosis associated with estrogen deficiency in OVX states.

This study focuses on the relationship between serum levels of cholesterol and homocysteine with that of total antioxidant capacity in rats with thyroid dysfunction.

Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, a control (euthyroid), hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, each of them containing ten rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by administration of 0.1% aminotriazole in drinking water for 3 weeks. Hyperthyroidism was induced by chronic subcutaneous injection of l-thyroxine (100 μg/day, dissolved in 200 μL saline solution/100 g body weight) for 3 weeks. The control and hypothyroid groups were injected subcutaneously with the same volume of saline solution.

Results showed that hyperthyroidism is characterized by reduced serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels despite increased free thyroxine (FT₄) and free triiodothyronine (FT₃) levels.

Significant (p < 0.05) elevation in serum levels of total homocysteine (t-Hcy) is reflected by a decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) production in hypothyroidism comparing to control.

There was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in serum levels of lipid profile (cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL) in hypothyroidism. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction occurred in the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in hyperthyroidism. The association of hyperhomocysteinemia and lipid abnormalities occurring in hypothyroidism may represent a dynamic atherogenic state.

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphorus insecticide widely used in agriculture. It has a variety of harmful effects on humans. Asparagus and chamomile have antioxidant properties and are used as antidotes of DZN in this study. Thirty-five adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into: control group; DZN group: subdivided into two subgroups which received ¼ LD₅₀ and ½ LD₅₀ dose of DZN for 30 days; DZN and asparagus extract group: subdivided into two subgroups which received ¼ LD₅₀ and ½ LD₅₀ dose of DZN respectively and treated with asparagus extract (300 mg/kg b. wt.) after 15 min of DZN administration; DZN and chamomile extract group: subdivided into two subgroups receiving DZN respectively and treated with chamomile extract (300 mg/kg b. wt.). The results herein showed that the antioxidant enzyme changes associated with the exposure to DZN are dose dependant in cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord tissues. The tumorigenicity of DZN was represented by the significant increase of arginase and the alpha-l-fucosidase in sera of all DZN groups. In addition, the molecular changes were investigated by the changes in Cu/Zn-dependent superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes that were altered after administration of DZN to rats. Present findings suggest that oral administration of aqueous extracts of asparagus or chamomile is able to restore the total antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by the increase of superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione content and their relative enzymes in the investigated tissues. Due to their antioxidant activities, asparagus and chamomile are potential candidates as anti-neurotoxic agents.

In this study we aimed to determine the anti-tumor efficacy of co-treatment of adoptively transferred T cells with bone marrow either harvested from naïve mice or G-CSF activated after treatment with the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide (CTX) as a source enriched in stem cells. CTX-treated Swiss Albino (CD-1) mice were injected with 2 × 10⁵ Ehrlich ascetic carcinoma (EAC) cell line and then adoptively transferred with in vitro co-activated T cells with or without bone marrow one day post CTX treatment. All mice were vaccinated with tumor lysate and Hiltonol®. The results showed that co-transfer of activated T cells with bone marrow provided the highest antitumor effect and induced marked increase in numbers of splenocytes, leucocytes and bone marrow cells. Interestingly, T cells derived from EAC tumor-bearing host induced higher effects than those from normal mice. In sum, our data suggest that combination of CTX and activated transferred T cells with bone marrow induces proliferation and expansion of immune cells, which are functional and can be exploited in vivo to foster more effective antitumor adoptive immunotherapy strategies.

This study aimed to evaluate the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀), acute (24 and 96 h) and sublethal (35 d) effects of deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide on hormonal and enzymological responses in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. In this study, the LC₅₀ values of deltamethrin for 24 and 96 h were found to be 0.438 and 0.38 mg L^—1, respectively. During acute (0.438 mg L⁻¹) and sublethal (1/10th of 24 h LC₅₀ value, 0.0438 mg L⁻¹) studies, plasma cortisol and prolactin levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05). When compared with the control group, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was observed in liver and kidney of fish treated with deltamethrin. However, a significant decrease in the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) was observed in liver and kidney of deltamethrin exposed fish. In addition, cholinesterase (ChE) activity was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the plasma of fish exposed to both acute and sublethal concentrations of deltamethrin. These results suggest that the tested concentrations of deltamethrin could have significant adverse effects on the hormonal and enzymological parameters of fish L. rohita. The alterations of these parameters can be effectively used to monitor the impact of deltamethrin in aquatic ecosystem.

Status epilepticus (SE) has functional and structural consequences resulting in brain damage. The present study aims to investigate the role of taurine and green tea extract in the neuroprotection against oxidative stress and changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities during SE induced by pilocarpine in the hippocampus of adult male rats. Animals received an oral administration of either taurine (100 mg/kg) or green tea extract containing 100 mg/kg epigallocatechin gallate for 3 days before the induction of SE with pilocarpine (380 mg/kg, i.p.) and were sacrificed 1 h after pilocarpine injection. Data indicated that a state of oxidative stress has evolved during SE as evident from the significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) level. Significant decreases in AChE and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities were also recorded. Pretreatment of rats with taurine exaggerated the increase in lipid peroxidation and failed to prevent the decrease in Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity resulting from pilocarpine. However, taurine pretreatment prevented the reduced activity of hippocampal AChE induced by pilocarpine during SE. Pretreatment of rats with green tea extract prevented the increase in lipid peroxidation occurring during SE. However, it failed to inhibit the decrease in Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity. In conclusion, taurine pretreatment failed to reduce the oxidative stress induced during SE. In contrast, pretreatment of rats with green tea extract ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by pilocarpine and this may assist in reducing the insults of hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity that occur during SE and thereby reduce neuronal damage.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has resulted in the need for new approaches to be developed to combat the previously easily treatable infections. This work aims to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant effects of the chitosan, as a new alternative or complementary anti-fungal drug, alone or in combination with amphotericin B against a pathogenic Candida albicans in mice. Eighty neutropenic infected mice were randomly assigned into four main groups (20 mice/group). The 1st group was treated with saline, neutropenic infected (NI group) (IPC group, invasive pulmonary candidiasis), the 2nd group was treated with chitosan (ED₅₀) (CE group), the 3rd group was treated with amphotericin B (150 mg/kg) (AMB group) and the 4th group was treated with chitosan plus amphotericin B (CE + AMB group). Treatment was started at 24 h after fungal inoculation and was administered for 3 consecutive days. All the previous treatments demonstrated notable growth inhibition against a C. albicans isolate as indicated by measuring the mean diameter of the inhibition zone. Compared with IPC group, CE, AMB, and AMB + CE-treated animals had 73%, 87%, and 90% reduction in fungal burden, respectively. Furthermore, treatment with CE and/or AMB for 24 and 72 h significantly decreased MDA, SOD, CAT and NO levels and increased GSH and in the lung tissues as compared with the infected untreated group. In conclusion, CE treatment, with the combination of antifungal therapy, can alleviate oxidative stress and lung injury associated with IPC in neutropenic mice.