Selenium modulates β-cyfluthrin-induced liver oxidative toxicity in rats

The role of stimulator of interferon genes-mediated AMPK/mTOR/P70S6K autophagy pathway in cyfluthrin-induced testicular injury

Cyfluthrin is widely used in the field of sanitary pest control by its wide insecticidal spectrum, high efficiency and low toxicity, low residue, and good biodegradability. But, as a double-edged sword, a large amount of cyfluthrin remains are still in the environment. The residual cyfluthrin is absorbed into the food chain through vegetation and then poses a risk to soil organisms and human health. Several studies have suggested that cyfluthrin is one of the main factors causing testicular damage, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we established in vivo and in vitro models of testicular injury in rats and GC-2 cells exposed to cyfluthrin to explore whether stimulator of interferon genes (STING) gene mediates the regulation of AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K autophagy pathway, which lays a foundation for further study of the mechanism of testicular injury induced by cyfluthrin. The results showed that the activity of super oxide dismutase in testis decreased and the activity of malonic dialdehyde increased with the increase of concentration in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, the levels of mitochondrial damage and inflammation in the testis also increased, which further activated autophagy. In this process, the increased level of inflammation is related to the increased expression of STING gene, and AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K autophagy pathway is also involved. To sum up, cyfluthrin has certain reproductive toxicity, and long-term exposure can induce testicular cell damage. STING gene can participate in cyfluthrin-induced testicular injury through AMPK/mTOR/P70S6K autophagy pathway.

β-Cyfluthrin-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Cultured Rat Primary Hepatocytes Ameliorated by Cotreatment with Luteolin

The current study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effects of luteolin against β-cyfluthrin-mediated toxicity on the primary culture of rat hepatocytes (RHs). In the first step, the exposure of RHs to β-cyfluthrin (10, 20, 40, and 80 μM) was assessed by MTT. Second, redox condition was evaluated in cotreatment of cells with luteolin (20, 40, and 60 μM) and β-cyfluthrin (40 μM) at both medium and intra levels. In comparison to control, viability was lower in 40 and 80 μM β-cyfluthrin-treated groups at 24 h and all β-cyfluthrin-treated groups at 48 h (P < 0.05). Cotreatment with 20 or 40 μM luteolin + 40 μM β-cyfluthrin resulted in a higher viability value compared to β-cyfluthrin alone at 24 and 48 h of incubation (P < 0.05). Administration of 20 or 40 μM luteolin with β-cyfluthrin led to the decrease of malondialdehyde and total nitrate/nitrite and the increase of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values in both medium and intrahepatocyte levels compared to the β-cyfluthrin-treated group at 48 h (P < 0.05). It seems that low and medium doses of luteolin possess the potential to reduce β-cyfluthrin-mediated hepatotoxicity via attenuation of peroxidative/nitrosative reactions and augmentation of TAC levels.

Ocimum basilicum Essential Oil Modulates Hematotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, and Cell Cycle Arrest Induced by β-cyfluthrin in Rat Liver

Pesticides are used in large quantities infrequently, resulting in environmental damage and health issues. The goal of the current study was to explore the ameliorating effect of Ocimum basilicum (Basil) leaves essential oil versus the harmful effects of β-cyfluthrin in rat liver. Male Wistar rats were classified at random into four groups; negative control (corn oil), basil leaves essential oil (BEO, 3 ml/kg), β-cyfluthrin (positive control) (β-Cyf; 15 mg/kg BW, 1/25 LD50), and BEO plus β-Cyf, respectively. The rats were given their doses orally every day for a month. Results revealed that BEO yielded 6.32 mg/g with 33 identified components, representing 97% of the total oil. BEO implicated a considerable level of total phenolic contents, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, ABTS activity, and FRAP. The treatment of β-Cyf dramatically elevated lipid peroxidation (TBARS and H2O2) (LPO), protein oxidation (PC, AOPP, and HYP), and considerably reduced enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GST) and non-enzymatic (GSH) antioxidants. After β-Cyf treatment, hematological parameters, body and liver weights, enzyme activity (AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH), as well as protein, albumin, globulin, and total bilirubin levels were all considerably affected. Furthermore, β-Cyf increased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6) as well as DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and decreased the number of cells in S and G2/M phase of liver cells. Moreover, rats given BEO then intoxicated with β-Cyf showed substantial changes in the majority of the parameters tested. Finally, BEO was shown to have high antioxidant efficacy in combating β-Cyf toxicity because of its high phenolic content.

Homeostasis of chosen bioelements in organs of rats receiving lithium and/or selenium

Lithium is an essential trace element, widely used in medicine and its application is often long-term. Despite beneficial effects, its administration can lead to severe side effects including hyperparathyroidism, renal and thyroid disorders. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the influence of lithium and/or selenium treatment on magnesium, calcium and silicon levels in rats’ organs as well as the possibility of using selenium as an adjuvant in lithium therapy. The study was performed on rats divided into four groups (six animals each): control-treated with saline; Li-treated with Li₂CO₃ (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.); Se-treated with Na₂SeO₃·H₂O (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.); Se + Li-treated simultaneously with Li₂CO₃ and Na₂SeO₃·H₂O (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w. and of 0.5 mg Se/kg b.w., respectively). The administration was performed in form of water solutions by stomach tube once a day for 3 weeks. In the organs (liver, kidney, brain, spleen, heart, lung and femoral muscle) the concentrations of magnesium, calcium and silicon were determined. Magnesium was increased in liver of Se and Se + Li given rats. Lithium decreased tissue Ca and co-administration of selenium reversed this effect. Silicon was not affected by any treatment. The beneficial effect of selenium on disturbances of calcium homeostasis let suggest that further research on selenium application as an adjuvant in lithium therapy is worth being performed.

Oxidative stress modulation by Rosmarinus officinalis in creosote-induced hepatotoxicity

Coal tar is a significant product generated from coal pyrolysis. Coal tar can be utilized as raw materials for various industries. It is also a type of raw material from which phenols, naphthalenes, and anthracene can be extracted. The present study was designed to investigate the possibility of coal tar creosote to induce oxidative stress and biochemical perturbations in rat liver and the role of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in ameliorating its toxic effects. Male Wister Albino rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven each, group I served as control; group II treated with rosemary (10 mL of water extract/kg BW for 21 days), group III received coal tar creosote (200 mg/4 mL olive oil/kg BW for 3 days), and group IV treated with both rosemary and coal tar creosote. The administration of coal tar creosote significantly caused elevation in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduction in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST). A significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) content was also observed. Liver aminotransferases aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)] and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) were significantly decreased while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was increased. Rosemary pretreatment to coal tar creosote-treated rats decreased LPO level and normalized GPx, GR, SOD, CAT, and GST activities, while GSH content was increased. Also, liver AST, ALT, AlP, and LDH were maintained near normal level due to rosemary treatment. In conclusion, rosemary has beneficial effects and could be able to antagonize coal tar creosote toxicity.

The protective influence of selenium on oxidant disturbances in brain of rats exposed to lithium

For more than sixty years lithium carbonate has been used in medicine. However, during its administration different side effects including oxidative stress can occur. Selenium belongs to essential elements possessing antioxidant properties. This study aimed at evaluating if selenium could be used as a protective adjuvant in lithium therapy. The experiment was performed on four groups of Wistar rats: I (control), II (Li), III (Se), IV (Li + Se) treated with saline, lithium carbonate (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.), sodium selenite (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.) and lithium carbonate (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.) + sodium selenite (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.), respectively. All substances were administered as water solutions by stomach tube for 3 or 6 weeks. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were determined in brain homogenates. Lithium slightly enhanced MDA and depressed CAT and SOD after 6 weeks as well as GPx after 3 weeks. Selenium co-administration showed tendency to restore the disturbed parameters. Selenium alone and given with lithium significantly increased GPx vs. Li-treated group after 3 weeks. Having regarded the outcomes of this study, the research on application of selenium during lithium treatment seems to be worth continuation.

Clinico-hematological and tissue changes induced by butachlor in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

The present experiment was executed to determine the pathological effects induced by concurrent feeding of butachlor (chloroacetanilide herbicide) in male Japanese quail. For this purpose mature male quail about 4-5weeks of age were procured from the local market and randomly divided into six equal groups (A-F). Butachlor was mixed in corn oil and administered orally for 30days using crop tube. Four birds from each group were killed at day 10, 20 and 30 of the experiment and blood was collected with and without anticoagulant. The birds in groups (A-D) did not reveal any clinical and behavioral alterations. Clinical signs like watery droppings, dullness, ruffled feather, depression, decrease frequency of crowing, mounting with pen mates and foam production were observed. Maximum intensity of these clinical signs and behavioral alterations were observed in group F throughout the experiment. Significant lower values of erythrocytes, hematocrit percent and hemoglobin were recorded. Significantly increased numbers of erythrocytes with micronuclei, lobed and notched nuclei were observed. Histopathologically, enlarged intertubular space, fewer numbers of round spermatids, necrotic spermatids and admixture of dead spermatids were observed in testes. The results revealed significant increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and urea concentrations. The results of present experimental study indicated that butachlor induces hematobiochemical and testicular changes in birds.

Evaluation of changes in monoamine levels and apoptosis induced by cyfluthrin in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate monoamine and mitochondrial cytochrome c levels and lipid peroxidation in adult male rats treated with cyfluthrin (14 mg kg⁻¹dose; approximately 1/10 of the LD₅₀value) for 14 days. This study also examined cyfluthrin induced-apoptosisviathe signaling proteins Bcl-2, caspase-9 and caspase-3, and possible anti-apoptotic effects of Alfa-basic crystallin.