Curative Effects of Dianthus orientalis against Paracetamol Triggered Oxidative Stress, Hepatic and Renal Injuries in Rabbit as an Experimental Model

The aim of the present study investigates the hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and hematopoietic and antioxidant effects of Dianthus orientalis leaves aqueous extract (DO.AQ) in rabbits intoxicated with paracetamol. Different experimental groups were formed, i.e., group N, group T, group ELD, group EMD, group EHD and group SM. The groups with leaves aqueous extract of Dianthus orientalis of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, i.e., group EMD and group EHD, showed remedial effects; however, a high dose extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the elevated serum levels of alanine transaminase ALT, aspartate transaminase AST and alkaline phosphatase ALP and renal related indices such as serum creatinine, urea and uric acid, and serum electrolytes such as Ca, Mg, P, Na and K, as well as the total count of RBC, WBC, platelets and hemoglobin Hb concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin MCH concentration and hematocrit HCT values. Additionally, the extract showed positive effects on the lipid profile, i.e., decreasing levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL and increasing levels of HDL. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS, glutathione GSH and radical scavenging activity were also evaluated in liver and kidney homogenates. Paracetamol fed animals had high levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and low levels of glutathione GSH and radical scavenging activity (RSA). Extract ingestion caused a significant increase in glutathione and radical scavenging activity RSA levels, while reducing the (TBARS) levels, showing that the extracts have antioxidant potentials. The antioxidant capacity of the Dianthus orientalis leaves aqueous extract at various dosages demonstrated an increased inhibition of DPPH, i.e., 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylehydrazyle free radical. The histological study of the liver and kidney supports the protective activity of Dianthus orientalis leaves aqueous extract against paracetamol intoxication with optimistic effects regarding oxidative stress condition and serum electrolytes balance.

Timeless or tainted? The effects of male ageing on seminal fluid

Reproductive ageing can occur due to the deterioration of both the soma and germline. In males, it has mostly been studied with respect to age-related changes in sperm. However, the somatic component of the ejaculate, seminal fluid, is also essential for maintaining reproductive function. Whilst we know that seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are required for male reproductive success across diverse taxa, age-related changes in SFP quantity and composition are little understood. Additionally, only few studies have explored the reproductive ageing of the tissues that produce SFPs, and the resulting reproductive outcomes. Here we provide a systematic review of studies addressing how advancing male age affects the production and properties of seminal fluid, in particular SFPs and oxidative stress, highlighting many open questions and generating new hypotheses for further research. We additionally discuss how declines in function of different components of seminal fluid, such as SFPs and antioxidants, could contribute to age-related loss of reproductive ability. Overall, we find evidence that ageing results in increased oxidative stress in seminal fluid and a decrease in the abundance of various SFPs. These results suggest that seminal fluid contributes towards important age-related changes influencing male reproduction. Thus, it is essential to study this mostly ignored component of the ejaculate to understand male reproductive ageing, and its consequences for sexual selection and paternal age effects on offspring.

Improvement in quality and storage ability of rabbit semen by using black or thyme seed as dietary supplementation

The quality of incubated or chilled rabbit semen is quickly lowered with time due to high-rate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Black seed (BS) and thyme (THY) are rich sources of natural antioxidants, which may be able to control ROS production and improve semen quality for use in artificial insemination. In this study, V-line rabbit bucks, seven months old, were fed diets supplemented with 50 or 100 g of BS or THY for 60 days. Semen was collected twice weekly. The quality of fresh sperm was measured, and diluted sperm was incubated for up to 12 h. Chilled, diluted sperm, stored at 4℃ for up to 3 days, was evaluated. The results indicated that BS and THY increased rabbit libido, decreased abnormal sperm and non-viable sperm percentages and significantly lowered total bacteria counts of diluted sperm. In conclusion, bucks fed a diet supplemented with BS or THY had enhanced semen quality and storage life, because of the antioxidant properties of BS and THY. The best incubation results were obtained with the THY100 treatment, whereas the best-chilled results were obtained with the BS100 group.

Effects of potato peel extract on semen quality, sex hormones and immunity of rabbit bucks under intensive breeding system

This study examined the utilisation of potato peels extract (PPE), derived from potato processing, as possible antioxidants for enhancing immunity and semen quality. Twenty-four V-Line rabbit bucks 10 months old were randomly assigned into three homogenous treatments (n = 8), PPE 25 and 50 groups orally administered two different concentrations (25 and 50 mg PPE/kg body weight) every two days for four months; a control orally administered water only. Semen characteristics, serum hormones, serum immunoglobulin M and antioxidative status of seminal plasma were determined. The results reveal that treatment with both levels of PPE significantly improved sperm concentration and decreased the percentage of dead spermatozoa compared with that of the control. Seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances significantly (p < .01) decreased with elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase by PPE treatments. Serum immunoglobulin M concentration was significantly (p < .01) higher for the PPE treatments compared to the control. Our results suggest that the use of PPE could prevent the accumulation of oxidation products and may have beneficial impact on the sperm concentration. The extract lowered the percentage of dead spermatozoa by reducing the intensity of oxidation processes. Low dose of the PPE was more effective than high dose.

Performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status of growing rabbits fed on diets supplemented with Mucuna pruriens leaf meal

<p>The effects of dietary <em>Mucuna pruriens</em> leaf meal (MLM) supplementation on rabbits’ performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status outside their thermal neutrality zone (21 to 25°C) were evaluated. One hundred and twenty 35-d old crossbreed (Chinchilla×New Zealand) rabbits weighing 694±5 g were allotted to 4 treatments (30 rabbits/treatment; 3 rabbits/replicate). A basal diet (crude protein: 16.9%, crude fibre: 17.6%, digestible energy: 2671 kcal/kg) was divided into 4 equal portions i.e. diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, supplemented with 0, 4, 8 and 12 g MLM/kg, respectively, and pelleted. The average body weight in rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 was higher compared to those fed on diet 1 (control) at 91 d of age (+228 and +262 g, respectively; P=0.01). Within 35 to 91 d, the average daily weight gain in rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 was higher compared to those fed on the control diet (+4.1and +4.8 g/d, respectively; P=0.01). The dressing-out percentage of rabbits fed on diets 3 and 4 increased (P=0.05) compared to those fed the control diet. At 63 d and 91 d of age, the white blood cell level of rabbits fed on diet 4 increased significantly compared to those fed the control diet (+5.05×10⁹ and +5.32×10⁹/L, respectively). At 63 and 91 d of age, the cholesterol level of rabbits fed on diets 3 (–1.0 and –1.16 mmol/L, respectively) and 4 (–1.10 and –1.21 mmol/L, respectively), were significantly lower compared to those fed on the control diet. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration in rabbits fed on diet 4 was reduced compared to those on control diet at 63 d of age (–33.68 IU/L; P=0.02). At 63 d and 91 d of age, compared to control, the activities of glutathione peroxidase in rabbits fed on diets 3 (+35.77 and +49.09 mg protein, respectively) and 4 (+54.52 and +55.02 mg protein, respectively) increased significantly, while catalase activities in rabbits fed diet 4 (+217.7 and +209.5 mg/g, respectively) also increased significantly. It could be concluded that dietary MLM supplementation enhanced the rabbits’ performance, reduced serum AST and cholesterol and improved the antioxidant status.</p>

Growth performance and antioxidant status of growing rabbits fed on diets supplemented with Eucommia ulmoides leaves

<p>The present study evaluated the effect of dietary <em>Eucommia ulmoides leaves</em> (EUL) on growth performance and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under heat stress condition. Four hundred and fifty weaned New Zealand male rabbits (6 wk old) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups (150 rabbits/group) and fed with a basal diet (control, digestible energy (DE): 15.92 MJ/kg and crude protein (CP): 19.24%) or the basal diet supplemented with 1 or 5 g of EUL/kg of diet (EUL1 and EUL5), in which the same quantity of barley meal was replaced. During the 21 d of experiment (43 to 63 d of age), the temperature and relative humidity of the rabbit house ranged from 27.5 to 32.5°C and from 65 to 73%, respectively. We analysed feed intake, growth performance and antioxidant status of growing rabbits. Compared with the control group, at the end of the experimental period, EUL supplementation significantly reduced the average daily feed intake (92.0, 92.8 and 100.7 g/d for EUL1, EUL5 and control, respectively; P&lt;0.05), improved the feed conversion ratio (3.80, 3.81 and 4.59 for EUL1, EUL5 and control, respectively; P&lt;0.05), increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (+35.5 and +35.0% in plasma and liver of rabbits in EUL5 vs. control group, respectively; P&lt;0.05) and reduced those of malondialdehyde (–12.0 and –46.0% in plasma and liver of rabbits in EUL5 vs. control group, respectively; P&lt;0.05). These results suggest that inclusion of EUL in the diet of growing rabbits improved the growth performance and antioxidant status in growing rabbits.</p>