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Doxorubicin (DOX) can be applied to treat several cancers. DOX-induced oxidative stress causes testicular damage. Diosmin (DIO), as a potent antioxidant, reduces many drugs' side effects. We determined DIO therapeutic effects on DOX-related testicular toxicity. Forty rats were assigned to five groups as control, DOX (2.5 mg/kg six i.p. injections at equal intervals over two weeks), DOX + DIO (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, orally, daily, for two weeks) groups. Oxidative and antioxidant markers, fertility parameters levels, sperm parameters, and a histopathological examination were analyzed. DOX group showed a significant decrease in the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and sertoli cells, seminiferous tubular diameter, seminiferous luminal diameter, and seminiferous epithelial height. Moreover, testosterone levels, glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities showed a significant decrease. Furthermore, nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and also follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels showed a significant increase in the DOX group compared to the control group. DIO improved DOX-related alterations in levels of hormones, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and sertoli cell number, and seminiferous diameters (tubular, luminal, and epithelial height). Furthermore, GSH level, SOD, GPx, and CAT activities showed a significant increase, and MDA and NO contents showed a significant decrease in the DOX + DIO group than the DOX group. The results indicate that DIO mitigate DOX‐induced testicular toxicity by its anti-oxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to dust storm particulate matter (PM) is detrimental to kidney tissue. In this study, the impacts of chronic intake of dusty PM were explored as a major objective in a specified compartment to make a real-like dust storm (DS) model, and the role of hesperidin (HSP) as an antioxidant on kidney tissue was assessed in rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (200-220 g) were randomly allocated into 4 groups: CA+NS: (clean air and normal saline as a vehicle of HSP). Dusty PM and NS (DS+NS). HSP+ CA: rats received 200 mg/kg of HSP by gavage for 28 days, once daily in addition to exposure to clean air. HSP+DS: HSP plus DS. In DS groups, the animals were exposed to dust storms at a concentration of 5000-8000 μg/m3 in the chamber for 1 h daily, for 4 consecutive weeks, except Thursdays and Fridays. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed for biochemical, inflammatory, oxidative stress, molecular parameters, and histological evaluation. DS significantly enhanced blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β), and oxidative stress indexes. Likewise, a significant increase was seen in mRNA Smads, collagen-I, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expressions in the kidney. Histological findings showed contracted glomeruli and kidney structure disorder. In addition, Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated renal fibrosis. Nevertheless, HSP could significantly reverse these changes. Our data confirmed that DS results in kidney fibrosis through enhancing Smads/TGF-β1 signaling. However, HSP was able to inhibit these changes as confirmed by histological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a highly toxic herbicide that causes pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and no specific antidote is available against it. Teucrium polium L. is a plant that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study evaluates the preventive and therapeutic effects of T. polium extract (TPE) against PQ-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Materials and Methods: We divided rats into five groups of eight. Groups one and two received saline and PQ (20 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Groups three to five were treated with TPE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, by gavage) started one week before PQ administration and lasted three weeks after PQ administration. Results: Our findings showed that PQ significantly increased lung malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, hydroxyproline, lung index, Ashcroft score, red blood cells accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Moreover, PQ decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione content. The results of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining indicated that PQ destroyed lung parenchyma and developed PF (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Gavage with TPE significantly improved biochemical and histological abnormalities induced by PQ in rats (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Conclusion: The current survey indicated that treatment with TPE could reduce and reverse PQ-induced PF, which may be due to the phenolic compounds present in TPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cichlidae family has more than 1300 species which in turn have great species morphologic differences. In this study, histology of liver, spleen and pancreas of four cichlid species (green terror cichlid, Oscar, giraffe cichlid and Texas cichlid) were compared. For this purpose, four apparently normal fish specimens from each species were selected after killing of which, tissue samples were taken. The sections stained with two methods (Haematoxillin- Eosin and Periodic acid Schiff). The results showed that all liver sections contained pancreas tissues around the liver blood vessels. Liver cells size in two species (green terror cichlid and giraffe cichlid) was significantly bigger than the two other species. The liver cell to pancreatic cell ratios also was significantly higher in two species. The liver size in giraffe cichlid, was even significantly bigger than the green terror cichlid. Exocrine pancreatic cell size in all 4 species showed no significant difference. The spleen in four fish species showed different degrees of amount and intensity in melanomacrophage centers. In PAS stained sections, only the pancreatic tissues showed more PAS positive reaction that may be due to the more glycogen content. The liver showed a weak PAS reaction. The bigger size formation of liver cells in two species can be due to feeding regime or simply a species specific trait. Yet more investigation is still needed to determine the importance of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been consistently found that exposure to ambient air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM), results in cognitive impairments and mental disorders. This study aimed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effects of curcumin, a polyphenol compound, on the neurobehavioral deficits and to identify the role of oxidative stress in dusty PM exposure rats. Rats received curcumin (50 mg/kg, daily, gavage, 2 weeks) 30 min before placing animals in a clean air chamber (≤ 150 µg/m3, 60 min daily, 2 weeks) or ambient dusty PM chamber (2000–8000 µg/m3, 60 min daily, 2 weeks). Subsequently, the cognitive and non-cognitive functions of the animals were evaluated using standard behavioral tests. Moreover, blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, brain water content (BWC), oxidative–antioxidative status, and histological changes were determined in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal areas of the rats. Our results showed that curcumin administration in dusty PM exposure rats attenuates memory impairment, decreases anxiety-/depression-like behaviors, and improves locomotor/exploratory activities. These findings were accompanied by reduced BBB permeability and BWC, decreasing oxidative stress, and lessening neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex and different hippocampal areas. The results of this study suggest that curcumin's antioxidant properties may contribute to its efficacy in improving neurobehavioral deficits and preventing neuronal loss associated with dusty PM exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arsenic is ubiquitous in the environment, and long- or short-term exposure through water, food, and occupational sources can contribute to oxidative stress-related injuries. We investigated berberine (BBR, as a natural anti-oxidant) protective effects against sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) related damage. Methods: Animals were allocated to five groups. Group 1 was used as a control. Group 2 received NaAsO2 (10 mg/kg P.O., for 3 weeks). Groups 3, 4, and 5 received oral administration of BBR (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively) within 4 weeks + NaAsO2 (10 mg/kg P.O., for 3 weeks). Twenty-four h after the last administration, markers of renal and liver function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory factors were measured. Results: NaAsO2 exposure significantly increased hepatic enzymes, like ALT, ALP, and AST as well as markers of renal function, like creatinine and BUN, oxidative damage markers, like malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and inflammatory markers, like NF-kB level, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Furthermore, NaAsO2 caused a significant reduction in anti-oxidant markers (glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase). The administration BBR + NaAsO2 caused a significant change in these factors compared to the arsenic group. Conclusion: The BBR treatment exerted a significant protective effect on NaAsO2-related hepatorenal toxicity. These protective effects of BBR are possible because of a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation is a key pathological event triggering neurodegenerative process, resulting in neurologic sequelae. Curcumin (cur) has recently received increasing attention due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced memory impairments, long-term potentiation (LTP) deficits, hippocampal inflammatory cytokines, and neuronal loss in male rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: (1) Vehicle; (2) cur; (3) LPS; and (4) cur/LPS. Following curcumin pretreatment (50 mg/kg, per oral via gavage, 14 consecutive days), animals received a single dose of LPS (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or saline. Twenty-four hours after LPS/or saline administration, passive avoidance test (PAT), hippocampal LTP, inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β), and neuronal loss were assessed in hippocampal tissue of rats. Our results indicated that pretreatment with curcumin in LPS-challenged rats attenuates memory impairment in PAT, which was accompanied by significant increase in the field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP) slope and population spike (PS) amplitude. Hence, pretreatment with curcumin in LPS-treated rats decreased hippocampal concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as reduced neuronal loss in the hippocampal tissue. This study provide evidence that pretreatment with curcumin attenuates LPS-induced memory impairment and LTP deficiency, which may be partly related to the amelioration of inflammatory cytokines and neuronal loss in the hippocampal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the most important native plants that have been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, but limited data is available about its beneficial effects on histological changes of skin during wound healing. In the present study, the effects of 5% and 10% alcoholic cream of nettle leaf extract as an experimental drug in wound healing were investigated. The rats (n=30) were randomly divided into five experimental groups. The back of the animals using a puncture machine was wound. Then all of them were treated twice a day for two weeks. The control group received saline at the site of the normal wound. The sham group received the eucerin solvent and the phenytoin group received 1% ointment. Two experimental groups received 5% and 10% of Nettle extracts. Finally, 14 days after the start of the study histological changes in the skin of the wound site, granulation tissue amount, granulation tissue fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, neovascularization, hydroxyproline content, and the percentage of wound healing in different experimental groups were analyzed. On day 14 of the experiment, the phenytoin and NE-treated groups had better effects on wound healing compared with the control group. Hydroxyproline content in dried wounds was significantly increased in the NE-treated groups compared to control groups. These results in 10% NE-treated group were significantly better than the 5% NE-treated group. These findings were confirmed by histological examination as well. According to the obtained results, nettle extract, to some extent similar to common chemical wound healing drug such as phenytoin, had a positive effect on skin changes during wound healing and these effects were dose-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication characterized by many side effects. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a protective lipophilic molecule with an extensive range of biological functions, but its possible protective effect on the ovary in OHSS has not as yet been studied. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of CoQ10 on ovarian histological and molecular alterations in an experimental model of OHSS in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty female (2 months old) Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups: control, OHSS, OHSS+CoQ10 (OHSS+ 200 mg/kg CoQ10 for 10 days), OHSS+ cabergoline (CAB) (OHSS+ 100 µg/kg CAB for 6 days), and CoQ10 and CAB (rats receiving similar doses to treatment groups.( In the end, the effects of treatments were assessed by measuring expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the ovary via western blotting, ovarian histomorphological alterations assessments, and serum estradiol and progesterone levels via ELISA. Results: There were histological alterations in OHSS groups, including the elevation of diameter and numbers of the corpus luteum and atretic follicles, and decreasing follicular reserve count, hyperemia, and hemorrhage at ovarian stroma. Treatment of OHSS groups with CAB and CoQ10 could decrease histological changes, serum estrogen and progesterone, and overexpression of VEGF and COX-2 proteins. Conclusion: Our results showed that ovarian histological and molecular alterations observed in experimental OHSS can be ameliorated by administration of CoQ10, indicating that CoQ10 can be used as new supportive care for OHSS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epileptic seizures are associated with the release of potentially neurotoxic amount of glutamate, which results in the over-production of free radicals and inflammatory factors, and induction of neuronal cell death. Current study evaluated the effect of tannic acid (TA) on Kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in mice. Methods: Mice were divided into the six groups. Group I was administrated with normal saline (NS; 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)), Group II was injected with KA (15 mg/kg, i.p.), Groups III was treated with diazepam (DZ; 20 mg/kg, i.p.) and KA (15 mg/kg, i.p.), Groups IV-VI were treated with TA (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) and KA (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Animals received all treatments 30 min before injection of KA. After the injection of KA, mice were observed for seizure (latency, activity and duration) and mortality for 2 h. In the brain tissue, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers were evaluated in addition to the determination of histological alterations in the CA1 molecular layer of hippocampus. Results: T reatment with TA significantly increased seizure latency and decreased seizure duration and activity, but could not significantly decrease mice mortality. This effect was associated with the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment with TA significantly improved KA-induced pyramidal cell loss and change in the arrangement of CA1 molecular layer. Conclusions: Tannic acid may be useful in the control of epileptic seizures through regulating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting compound inducing degeneration of testes. Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenol with various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Purpose: This research evaluated effects of different doses of GA on DEHP-induced testicular injury in adult mice. Research Design: Male mice were randomly divided into five groups and treated with agents for two weeks; group (I) received normal saline and corn oil (5 mL/kg/day, p. o.), group (II) received DEHP (2 g/kg/day, dissolved in corn oil, p. o.), groups (III, IV, and V) received DEHP + GA (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day, p. o.). Body and testes weights, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were evaluated. The number of sperms and sperm motility and viability were analyzed in the cauda epididymis. Histological changes, oxidative/nitrosative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines levels were examined in testes. Results: Body and testes weights, the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte and early spermatid, and late spermatid and sperm vitality, and progressive motility were significantly reduced in mice exposed to DEHP. Serum testosterone level decreased and serum LH and FSH levels increased in DEHP-exposed mice. These alterations were associated with the increased oxidative stress level and inflammatory responses in testicular tissue. Treatment with GA (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) attenuated DEHP-induced alterations in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines and reversed abnormality in sperm characteristic and number, tissue structure, and serum hormones levels. Conclusions: Results indicated that GA might be a promising agent against male gonadal toxicity induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals including DEHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is an omnivorous and important breeding species in the world. Over the recent years, tilapia breeding has begun in Iran. In aquaculture, it is very important to regulate a balanced diet in terms of nutrients needed for growth, which would be also economically appropriate. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of substituting chicken waste powder in the diet of fish at levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % on the tissue structure of different parts of the intestine of Nile tilapia. METHODS: 75 fish (three frequency per treatment) were fed with chicken waste powder instead of fish meal in their diet for eight weeks at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % levels. At the end of the treatment, separate samples were taken from the initial, middle, and end parts of the intestine. After passing the usual histological steps, the slides were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: In histometric studies, the highest villi height, thickness, muscle layer, and number of goblet cells were reported in the control group and the lowest in the 100 % group. In immunohistochemical studies, the number of apoptotic cells in groups 75 and 100 % was higher than that in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, it could be suggested that the replacement of chicken waste powder instead of a fish meal up to 50 % for indigo tilapia is tolerable. However, higher levels of chicken waste powder will reduce absorption, and acceptance of food and have adverse effects on growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phthalates such as di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are well known exogenous substances, disrupting reproductive system function and structure. The current research demonstrated the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on DEHP-induced testicular injury in mice. Methods: Thirty-five healthy adult male mice were randomly divided to five groups; normal saline receiving group, DEHP (2 g/kg/day, dissolved in corn oil, p.o.) receiving group, DEHP (2 g/kg/day, dissolved in corn oil, p.o.) and EA receiving groups (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Treatment duration of animals was 14 days. Body and testes weights and sperm characteristics and histological changes of testes were evaluated. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were analyzed. In the testicular tissue, oxidative/nitrosative stress markers and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured. Results: Ellagic acid significantly reduced DEHP-induced reduction of body and testes weights. The DEHP-induced reduction of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte and sertoli cells numbers as well as reduction of sperm vitality and progressive motility were reversed by EA. Furthermore, EA inhibited DEHP-induced alterations in serum hormone levels. These effects were associated with the reduction of DEHP-induced increased level of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Conclusions: Ellagic acid considerably inhibits testicular toxicity of DEHP through reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammatory responses. Our data suggest that EA may be considered as a promising agent to inhibit male reproductive toxicity induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals such as DEHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water temperature on the shrimp hepatopancreas of Litopenaeus vannamei by immunohistochemical method. In this research, a total of 50 shrimp with an average length of 23 ± 1 cm and an average weight of 28 ± 0.5 gr were accidentally caught from shrimp farms of the Choebdeh Abadan from Khuzestan province in two different seasons of the year. The shrimp were sampled for the histological and structural study of the hepatopancreas. After killing the shrimp by physical method, the hepatopancreas of each shrimp was transferred to Davidson's solution. The tissue samples were processed by routine histological procedure, using ascending ethanol for dehydration, xylene for clearing, and paraffin impregnation. 4-6 μm sections were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL immunohistochemistry technique. Finally, slides were studied by a light microscope equipped with a Dino-lite lens and Dino-capture software. The results indicated that the hepatopancreas structure is a tubular organ that can be affected by water temperature. In the warm season, the diameter of the tubules was smaller than in the cold season (p≤0.05). There was a significant difference in the percentage of apoptosis between the tubule-forming cells in the warm and cold seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The online version of the original article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-023-03877-0. A Intact pyramidal neurons (blue arrows) and dark neurons (black arrows) in the examined brain areas (original magnification × 400 in CA1 and ×200 in other regions, scale bar 20 m). [Extracted from the article]