Exposure to oxyfluorfen-induced hematobiochemical alterations, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and disruption of sex hormones in male African catfish and the potential to confront by Chlorella vulgaris

Dietary tea tree (Melaleucae Aetheroleum) oil fortifies growth, biochemical, immune-antioxidant trait, gene function, tissue reaction, and Aeromonas sobria resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The current study had aimed to assess the long-term dietary supplementation with Melaleucae aetheroleum, tea tree essential oil (TTO). The impact on growth performance, biochemical indices, immune function, oxidant/antioxidant activity, gene expression, histopathology, and resistance against Aeromonas sobria in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was investigated. Four groups (with five replicates; G1 (control group, G2, G3, and G4) of Nile tilapia received diets enriched with TTO (doses of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mL/kg diet) for 60 days, then fish were challenged by A. sobria. Outcomes indicated an extensive elevation in growth metrics (final body weight, weight gain, SGR, feed intake and fish body protein). Similarly, the total blood protein, albumin, total globulin levels, Serum complement-3 levels, lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin M (IgM), nitric oxide, and phagocytic activity were significantly enhanced in all treatments, notably in the 2.0 mL TTO/kg fed groups compared to the control. Lower levels of urea, creatinine, AST, ALP, ALT, cortisol, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and body crude lipids were observed in the fish that were fed a 2.0 mL TTO/kg diet. Supplementing TTO at 2.0-mL /kg diet revealed the best results for elevating CAT, SOD, and GSH activities plus declining MDA value in hepatic homogenate. Additionally, dietary 2.0-mL TTO/kg showed the best outcomes for the intestinal morphometry plus maintaining the histological picture in spleen and liver. Concurrently, fish that were fed a 2.0 mL TTO/kg diet exhibited a substantial upregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, TFG-β, IFN-γ and BCL-2 genes in the liver, while, caspase-3, and BAX were downregulated. Furthermore, TTO-enriched diets enhanced the relative percentage survival post-A. sobria challenge plus enhanced the clinical picture in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, the findings revealed that long-term exposure to dietary TTO fortified the physiological performance, oxidant/anti-oxidant stability, immune function, gene expression, histological picture, and resistance of Nile tilapia against A. sobria.

Antagonistic Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Dietary Supplementation Against Chronic Copper Waterborne Exposure on Growth, Behavioral, Biochemical, and Gene Expression Alterations of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

The harmful impact of waterborne copper (Cu) as a common abiotic stressor in aquatic environments has gained much more interest. The present study aimed to investigate the utilization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) dietary supplementation to mitigate the chronic toxicity of Cu in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Two hundred and forty fish (92.94 ± 0.13 g) were assigned into six groups for 60 days. Control (C), ZnONPs20, and ZnONPs30 groups were fed on basal diets fortified with 0, 20, and 30 mg kg-1 ZnONPs without Cu exposure. Cu, Cu + ZnONPs20, and Cu + ZnONPs30 groups were exposed to Cu at a dose of 10 mg L-1 and fed on basal diets fortified with 0, 20, and 30 mg kg-1 ZnONPs, respectively. The results revealed that the Cu-exposed fish experienced abnormal clinical signs and behavioral changes. The growth indices and acetylcholine esterase activity were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the Cu group. Meanwhile, hepatorenal and serum stress indices (P < 0.05) were significantly elevated with chronic Cu exposure. In addition, a higher expression of stress (P < 0.05) (heat shock protein 60 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha) and apoptotic-related genes (C/EBP homologous protein, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 Associated X-protein) with down-regulation (P < 0.05) of the anti-apoptotic-related genes (B-cell lymphoma 2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was noticed in the Cu-exposed fish. Histopathological alterations in the gills, liver, kidney, and spleen were markedly reported in the Cu-exposed group. The dietary supplementation with ZnONPs significantly alleviated the negative impacts of chronic waterborne-Cu exposure on growth performance, physiological changes, gene expression, and tissue architecture, especially at 30 mg kg-1 diet level. In particular, the inclusion of ZnONPs at the 30 mg kg-1 diet level produced better outcomes than the 20 mg kg-1 diet. Overall, ZnONPs could be added as a feed supplement in the C. gariepinus diet to boost the fish's health and productivity and alleviate the stress condition brought on by Cu exposure.

Effects of extended dietary supplementation with Santalum album essential oil on hemato-biochemical changes, innate immune response, antioxidant status, and expression of related gene in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The effects of long-term dietary supplementation with sandalwood (Santalum album L.) essential oil (SEO) was investigated on hemato-biochemical biomarkers, immune status, antioxidant capacity, and resistance against Staphylococcus aureus in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Five groups (with four replicates) of O. niloticus (12.60 ± 0.20 g) were fed diets supplemented with SEO at doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mL/kg diet for 60 days. Results indicated a substantial increase in blood protein levels and lower serum cholesterol, cortisol, glucose, urea, creatinine levels and, transaminase activities of fish fed a 2.0-mL SEO/kg diet. Serum lysozyme activity, nitric oxide, complement-3 levels, and phagocytic activity were significantly improved in O. niloticus after 60 days of feeding SEO-supplemented diets. Dietary SEO at level of 2.0-mL SEO/kg diet increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx, and decreased MDA levels in liver homogenate. In addition, dietary 2.0-mL SEO/kg diet significantly upregulated antioxidant genes expression (CAT, SOD, GPx, GST, and GSR) with downregulation of apoptotic genes (HSP70, TLR2, caspase-3, and PCNA) in the liver. Furthermore, SEO-enriched diets significantly down-regulated pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8) and up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokine genes (TFG-β and IL-10) in the spleen. Moreover, SEO fortification increased the relative percentage of survival against S. aureus challenge and regulated immune-antioxidant genes in the spleen after the challenge. Overall, the results revealed that long-term using SEO might strengthen the physiological performance, hepatic oxidant/antioxidant balance, innate immune response, and resistance of O. niloticus against bacterial infections.

Potential role of dietary Boswellia serrata resin against mancozeb fungicide-induced immune-antioxidant suppression, histopathological alterations, and genotoxicity in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

This study was established to look into the toxicological consequences of chronic exposure to a fungicide (mancozeb; MAZ) on the immune-antioxidant response, gene expressions, hepato-renal functions, and histological pictures of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Additionally, the effectiveness of Indian frankincense resin extract (IFRE) to mitigate their toxicity was taken into account. Fish (n =240; average body weight: 22.45 ± 2.21 g) were randomized into four groups for eight weeks in six replicates (control, IFRE, MAZ, and IFRE + MAZ), where ten fish were kept per replicate. The control and IFRE groups received basal diets that included 0.0 and 5 g/kg of IFRE without MAZ exposure. The MAZ and IFRE+MAZ groups received the same diets and were exposed to 1/10 of the 96-h of LC50 of MAZ (1.15 mg/L). The outcomes displayed that MAZ exposure resulted in a lower survival rate (56.67 %) and significantly decreased levels of immune-antioxidant variables (antiprotease, complement3, phagocytic activity, lysozyme, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity) compared to the control group. The MAZ-exposed fish showed the greatest levels of lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde), alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino-transferase, and stress indicators (cortisol and glucose). Additionally, histopathological alterations, including vacuolation, severe necrosis, degeneration, and mononuclear cell infiltrations in the hepatic, renal, and splenic tissues resulted, besides a reduction in the melanomacrophage center in the spleen. A down-regulation of immune-antioxidant-associated genes [toll-like receptors (TLR-2 and TLR-7), nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 3 gamma b (pik3r3b), interleukins (IL-1β and IL-8), glutathione synthetase (GSS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] were the consequences of the MAZ exposure. Remarkably, the dietary inclusion of IFRE in MAZ-exposed fish augmented the immune-antioxidant parameters, including their associated genes, decreased stress response, and increased survival rate (85 %) compared with the MAZ-exposed fish. Moreover, dietary IFRE improved hepato-renal function indices by preserving the histological architecture of the hepatic, renal, and splenic tissues. The insights of this study advocate the use of an IFRE-dietary addition to protect Nile tilapia from MAZ toxicity, which provides perspectives for future implementations in enhancing fish health for sustainable aquaculture.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects

The deleterious effects of chemical or non-chemical endocrine disruptors (EDs) on male fertility potential is well documented but still not fully elucidated. For example, the detection of industrial chemicals' metabolites in seminal plasma and follicular fluid can affect efficiency of the gametogenesis, the maturation and competency of gametes and has guided scientists to hypothesize that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may disrupt hormonal homoeostasis by leading to a wide range of hormonal control impairments. The effects of EDCs exposure on reproductive health are highly dependent on factors including the type of EDCs, the duration of exposure, individual susceptibility, and the presence of other co-factors. Research and scientists continue to study these complex interactions. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature to better understand the potential reproductive health risks of EDCs in France.

Oxyfluorfen induces cell cycle arrest by regulating MAPK, PI3K and autophagy in ruminant immortalized mammary epithelial cells

Oxyfluorfen, a phenoxy phenyl-type herbicide, causes significant damage to ecosystems through chronically effecting invertebrates, fish, and mammals. Considering its adverse effect on ecosystem conservation, it is necessary to investigate its toxic effects on animals. However, the mechanisms of oxyfluorfen toxicity on bovines are not well established. This study investigated the cytotoxic effect of oxyfluorfen on bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). We conducted several functional experiments to examine the response of MAC-T to oxyfluorfen under various concentrations (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10 ppm). Oxyfluorfen decreased cell viability and increased apoptotic cells by regulating the expression of apoptotic genes and proteins in MAC-T. In addition, oxyfluorfen-treated cells exhibited reduced PCNA expression with a low 3D spheroid formation as compared to that of control cells. Furthermore, oxyfluorfen treatment suppressed cell cycle progression with a decrease in cyclin D1 and cyclin A2 in MAC-T. Next, we performed western blot analysis to verify intercellular signaling changes in oxyfluorfen-treated MAC-T. The phosphor-AKT protein was increased, whereas MAPK signal pathways were decreased. Particularly, the combination of oxyfluorfen with U0126 or SP600125 completely blocked the ERK1/2 and JNK pathways leading to cell viability in MAC-T. Moreover, oxyfluorfen induced inflammatory gene expression and autophagy by increasing phosphorylation of P62 and LC3B in MAC-T. These results demonstrated that oxyfluorfen has cytotoxic effect on MAC-T, implying that the milk production capacity in cows may eventually harm humans.