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The present study evaluated the impact of chronic herbicide (oxyfluorfen; OXY) exposure on catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in terms of growth, hematobiochemical parameters, immune response, antioxidant- and immune-related gene expression, and resistance to monogenean parasites, Quadriacanthus aegypticus. In addition, the protective role of Wormwood, Artemisia cina (AC) against OXY exposure through diet inclusion was also analyzed. The catfish fingerlings were exposed to OXY (1.16 mg/L) for 60 days and fed diets without AC supplementation (control) and with 5% AC supplementation. The results demonstrated that exposure to OXY stunted growth; decreased survival, erythrograms and leukograms, serum protein, and acetylcholinesterase; and negatively altered the antioxidant status. On the contrary, AC supplementation significantly reduced OXY’s negative impacts on growth and hematological, biochemical, and antioxidant balance. In addition, exposure to OXY markedly increased levels of biomarkers of hepatorenal damage, stress indicators, and DNA damage, which were alleviated with AC supplementation. OXY exposure induced immunosuppression manifested by a decrease in lysozyme activities, complement c3, nitric oxide levels, and phagocytic activity. Furthermore, exposure to OXY negatively regulated the expression of immune-antioxidant genes (CAT, GPX1, SOD1, GST, and TGF-Β1). However, it upregulated the expression of CYP1a, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the liver, anterior kidney, and intestine of C. gariepinus. Meanwhile, the addition of AC to the OXY-exposed fish diets notably restored immune components and remedied the altered immune-related gene expressions. Likewise, the AC supplementation significantly alleviated the OXY-induced reduction in the fish survival rate after Q. aegypticus challenge. Accordingly, AC dietary supplementation in catfish diets could alleviate the negative impact of exposure to OXY on growth performance, physiological status, and some immune-antioxidant-related gene expression.

Objective: Daily exposure to food preservatives constitutes a major crisis to children especially during vaccination so; the aim of the study is to assess the effect of sodium nitrite on the immune responses against Rift Valley fever vaccine (RVFV) in Swiss mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four equal groups: group 1 (control) was orally administrated with distilled water (2 ml/kg b. wt.); group 2 was orally administrated with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of sodium nitrite 0.07 mg/kg b. wt. daily for 21 d, group 3 was vaccinated with inactivated RVFV two times and group 4 was orally given sodium nitrite and vaccinated as group 3. Blood samples were collected from all groups two weeks after booster vaccination. The leucocytic indices and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were determined to assess the cell-mediated immunity. The humoral immunity was evaluated using direct enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) test and serum neutralization test (SNT). Results: Sodium nitrite significantly increased the neutrophil index and the NLR whereas; it decreased the total leucocytic count and lymphocyte index in both non-vaccinated and vaccinated mice. Moreover, sodium nitrite significantly decreased both the IgG titer and the efficiency of vaccination through increasing the ED50 value. Conclusion: Sodium nitrite existed an immune-suppressive effect on both cellular and humoral immune responses in mice.

Background: this study examined the metformin (MF) and/or chitosan stabilized selenium nanoparticles (CH-SeNPs) efficacy to alleviate the male reproductive function impairment in a high-fat diet feed with low-dose streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diabetic rat model. Methods: control non-diabetic, HFD/STZ diabetic, HFD/STZ+MF, HFD/STZ+CH-SeNPs, and HFD/STZ+MF+CH-SeNPs rat groups were used. After 60 days, semen evaluation, hormonal assay, enzymatic antioxidant, lipid peroxidation, testis histopathology, and the steroidogenesis-related genes mRNA expressions were assessed. Results: in the HFD/STZ diabetic rats, sperm count and motility, male sexual hormones, and testicular antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced. However, sperm abnormalities and testicular malondialdehyde were significantly incremented. The steroidogenesis-related genes, including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAr), cytochrome11A1 (CYP11A1), cytochrome17A1 (CYP17A1), and hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3 (HSD17B3), and the mitochondrial biogenesis related genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC&alpha, ) and sirtuin (SIRT), were significantly downregulated in the HFD/STZ diabetic rats. However, CYP19A1mRNA expression was significantly upregulated. In contrast, MF and/or CH-SeNPs oral dosing significantly rescued the T2DM-induced sperm abnormalities, reduced sperm motility, diminished sexual hormones level, testicular oxidative damage, and steroidogenesis-related genes dysregulation. In the MF and CH-SeNP co-treated group, many of the estimated parameters differ considerably from single MF or CH-SeNPs treated groups. Conclusions: the MF and CH-SeNPs combined treatment could efficiently limit the diabetic complications largely than monotherapeutic approach and they could be considered a hopeful treatment option in the T2DM.

There is a global increase in daily dietary intake of acrylamide (ACR) owing to its presence in various foods. However, several toxicological issues are still unclear, particularly after oral exposure to low doses for long durations. As a result, the objective of this research was to investigate the effects of giving male Wistar rats two dosages of ACR (1 or 2 mg/kg b.wt.) via oral gavage once a day for 90 days on blood components, immune markers, and splenic tissue. The results revealed that leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, eosinophilia, and thrombocytopenia were all found to be ACR dose-dependent. In addition, ACR-treated rats had considerably higher IgG and IgM levels. Following ACR exposure, phagocytic activity, lysozyme, and nitric oxide levels were significantly reduced. In ACR-exposed rats, there was a significant reduction in lymphocyte proliferation but an increase in LDH activity. Both splenic tissue and bone marrow showed a variety of degenerative changes. There was a significant increase in CD4

High fluoride (FL) concentration in many areas of the world is of great concern. It poses a threat to aquatic life. Therefore, the current study was operated to scrutinize the efficiency of Silybum marianum (SM) and/or coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) dietary supplementation to rescue FL negative effects on the growth, hematological indicators, liver and kidney function, serum protein profile, innate immune parameters, oxidative status, vital organ architecture, and disease resistance to Aeromonas sobria. Two hundred and forty healthy Clarias gariepinus fish were alienated into eight groups in triplicate. The control group was fed a non-supplemented basal diet. The SM, CQ10, and SM + CQ10 groups were fed a basal diet fortified with 10 g SM/kg diet, 40 mg CQ10/kg diet, or SM + CQ10, respectively. The FL group was exposed to 73.45 mg FL/L water. The FL + SM, FL + CQ10, and FL + SM + CQ10 were exposed to FL concomitantly with SM, CQ10, and SM + CQ10, respectively. The experiment continued for 60 successive days. The results showed lower weight gain and specific growth rate but higher hepatosomtic index in the FL-exposed fish. An obvious leukopenic and anemic condition was detected. Also, a significant increase in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes and kidney damage products was apparent in FL-exposed fish. Nevertheless, exhaustion of the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants but elevated lipid peroxidation product (MDA) was noted. The FL exposure exhausted lysozyme activity, complement 3, nitric oxide, total proteins, albumin, and γ globulin contents in the serum of C. gariepinus. Moreover, diverse pathological alterations were detected in the liver, kidney, and spleen. After 14 days of A. sobria challenge, the relative survival rate percentage was significantly reduced in FL-exposed fish. On the contrary, the SM and/or CQ10 addition significantly reduced most FL-associated negative impacts. Conclusively, SM and/or CQ10 dietary supplements could be beneficial for alleviating FL deleterious impacts, thus affording advantageous aqua feed additive for C. gariepinus.

In this era, there is a global concern in the use of bioactive molecules such as chitosan in the field of antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. Because of its biodegradability, biological compatibility, antimicrobial, antioxidants activity, and high safety, chitosan could be used in a large number of applications. It could exist in many forms, such as fibers, gels, films, sponges, nanoparticles, and beads. The different biological activities of chitosan and its products are extensively investigated to broaden the application fields in several areas. Chitosan's natural properties depend strongly on water and other solvent solubility. Consequently, the chitosan oligosaccharides with a low polymerization degree are getting significant attention in the pharmaceutical and medical applications because they have lower viscosity and higher water solubility than chitosan. The objective of this review article is to put the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of chitosan and its derivatives under the spotlight. The impacts of chitosan on physicochemical parameters like molecular weight and deacetylation degree on its bioactivities are also identified. Additionally, other applications of chitosan and its derivatives, including wound healing products, wastewater treatment, and cosmetics, have also been highlighted.

Currently, feed adulteration and contamination with melamine (MEL) are considered one of the serious issues in the aquatic industry. With the limited studies of MEL exposure alone in fish, its adverse impacts on fish cannot be evaluated well. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the effects of MEL containing diets on the immune response, disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila, growth performance, chemical composition, immune-related genes expression, and histopathology of both spleen and head kidneys. Also, the efficacy of curcumin (CUR) dietary supplementation to alleviate MEL negative impacts were evaluated. A total of 180 apparently healthy Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus) were divided into four groups with three replicates fed the basal diet only, basal diet fortified with 200 mg/kg CUR, basal diet containing 1 % MEL, or a basal diet containing CUR + MEL. The results displayed that MEL significantly reduced growth performance indices and body crude lipid contents. Anemic, leukopenic, lymphocytopenic, heterocytopenic, esonipenic, hypoproteinemic and hypoalbuminic conditions were apparent. Moreover, depleted immune and antioxidant indicators including lysozyme activity, nitric oxide, immunoglobulin M, complement 3, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity were recorded. Also, MEL reduced the disease resistance of O. niloticus to bacterial infection. Furthermore, MEL induced downregulation of mRNA levels of interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor α in the spleen together with obvious pathological perturbations in both spleen and head kidneys. The CUR addition resulted in a significant enhancement in most indices. These results may conclude that MEL could alter both innate and adaptive immune responses via the negative transcriptional effect on immune-related genes together with the oxidative damage of the immune organs. Furthermore, CUR dietary supplements could be advantageous for mitigating MEL negative impacts, thus offering a favorable aquafeed additive for O. niloticus.

The present study evaluated the adverse effects of the hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) at sub-lethal concentrations and the ameliorative potential of curcumin (CUR) over a sub-chronic exposure period on Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were exposed to Cr (VI) (4.57 mg/L) and CUR (0.02% in diet or 200 mg/kg diet), individually or in combination for 60-days. The growth rate during the period of experiment, condition factor, body composition, hepatosomatic index (HSI), hematological parameters, oxidative stress, apoptotic and DNA damage, branchial, hepato- and nephrotoxicity were estimated in this study. Moreover, the changes in mRNA expression of Cytochromes (CYP450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in kidney and liver tissues were assessed by qRT-PCR. Additionally, the concentration of metallothionine in the liver, histological investigation, and lesion scoring to the branchial, hepatic, renal and gill tissues were applied. The results revealed that Cr (VI) exposure caused a significant decline in most hematological variables and growth rate with down-regulation of CYP450 and GST expression. Histologically, Cr (VI) induced diverse forms of cell injury, vascular, and inflammatory alterations with upregulation of caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl2 expression in the examined tissues. Additionally, it elevated the levels of serum MDA and 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine than control. CUR-supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in most indices, amelioration of histological alterations and up-regulation of CYP450 and GST expression. These results may conclude that dietary supplements with CUR could be useful for modulation of the growth with protective effects to the branchial, hepatic, and renal tissues in response to Cr (VI) exposure, thereby presenting a promising feed additive for Nile tilapia in aquaculture.

The present study was planned to examine the effect of butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) on the immune response of Rift Valley fever vaccine (RVFV) in Swiss mice. Animals were divided into four equal groups. The first group was kept as negative control. The 2nd group was orally administrated with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of BHT 0.3 mg/kg b.wt. daily for 21 days and the 3rd group were vaccinated only by inactivated RVFV at a dose of 0.2 ml I/P two times. The 4th group was orally administrated BHT as in the 2nd group and vaccinated by inactivated RVFV as in the 4th group. Blood samples were collected from all groups two weeks from booster vaccination. The cellular immunity was determined by leucocytic indices and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) whereas, humoral immunity was evaluated with IgG antibodies titer using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) test, serum neutralization test (SNT) and challenge test. BHT induced leucopenia, neutrophilia and marked lymphocytopenia in both non-vaccinated and vaccinated mice. Moreover, BHT significantly decreased the efficiency of vaccination by inducing 70% cytopathic effect (CPE) in the infected cell cultures and increasing the ED50 value of RVFV vaccine. The present study indicates that BHT possesses a potential for decreasing both cellular and humoral mediated mechanisms.

Furan is a common food contaminant and environmental pollutant. Spirulina platensis (SP) is a blue–green algae extensively used as therapeutic and health supplements. This study aimed to explore the probable beneficial role of SP against the influence of furan on reproductive system of male rats. Adult male rats were divided into control, vehicle control, SP (300 mg/kg bwt/ day, 7 days), furan (16 mg/kg bwt/ day,30 day), SP/furan, furan/SP and furan+SP groups. Hematology, sperm count, sperm morphology, serum testosterone (TES), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), testicular enzymes, and pro inflammatory cytokines were estimated. In addition, histopathology of testis and seminal vesicles and apoptosis were evaluated. Anaemia, leukocytosis, and reduced gonadosomatic index were observed in the furan treated group. TES, LH, FSH, E2, and GSH were significantly decreased following furan treatment. MDA, testicular enzymes, and pro inflammatory cytokines were significantly incremented in testis of furan treated rats. Furan induced apoptic changes in testis. SP significantly counteracted furan reprotoxic impacts, particularly at co-exposure. Conclusively, these findings verified that SP could be candidate therapy against furan reprotoxic impacts.

The current study was set to explore the possible radioprotective activity of Spirulina platensis (SP) against some genotoxic effects of GSM 900-MHz cellular phone radiation on both bone marrow cells and erythrogram. Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups, exposed to mobile phone radiation for 6 h/day and/or orally administered 300 mg SP/kg body wt for 30 days. Erythrogram elements, alkaline comet, and micronucleus assays for the detection of DNA damage were estimated besides a histopathological examination of bone marrow tissue. Mobile phone radiation exposure evoked a significant increase in RBC count, Hb concentrations, and packed cell volume (PCV) in addition to marked elevation in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow compared to control. On the other hand, SP significantly reduced the level of DNA damage and oxidative stress resulted from electromagnetic phone’s radiations. Conclusively, the continuous exposure to mobile phone’s radiation for a long time had a significant adverse genotoxic effect on both bone marrow and hematopoietic system. Yet, SP is proved to be a useful candidate compound in radioprotection.