Assessment of methomyl-induced adrenal gland disruption in rat fetuses and pups: Potential protective effects of propolis supplementation

The present study aimed to unravel the possible adverse effects of methomyl on the developing adrenal gland of rat fetuses and pups. Additionally, this study explored the potential improving effects of propolis against these possible hazards induced by methomyl exposure. To achieve that, pregnant rats were divided into four groups: control group, received 1 mL distilled water, propolis group, received 1 mL propolis at a dose of 300 mg/kg, methomyl group, received 1 mL methomyl at a dose of 2 mg/kg, and combined group, received 1 mL methomyl followed by 1 mL propolis, an hour later at the same previous doses. The results revealed that methomyl exposure, during pregnancy and lactation, induced many histological and ultrastructural changes, caused DNA damage and downregulated the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and CYP11B2 genes in the adrenal glands of both rat fetuses and pups. Interestingly, propolis supplementation demonstrated a remarkable ability to mitigate these deleterious effects and restored the histology and ultrastructure architecture of the adrenal glands of both fetuses and pups, as well as decreased DNA damage and upregulated the expression of StAR and CYP11B2 genes in the adrenal gland of rat fetuses and pups. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential hazardous impact of methomyl exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the development of the adrenal gland in rat fetuses and pups, moreover, the study presents a new approach to alleviate these effects through propolis administration which could be used as a dietary supplement to mitigate the adverse effects of methomyl exposure.

Iron overload induced by diphenylamine triggers reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in the spleen of pregnant rats and their fetuses

Diphenylamine (DPA) is an aniline derivative, used widely as an industrial antioxidant, dye mordant, and agricultural fungicide. DPA was reported as hazardous to mammals both acutely and chronically, however little is known about the toxicity of DPA and its derivatives during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate and explain the possible mechanism of toxicity induced by DPA on blood and spleen, as a fundamental hematopoietic target organ, in pregnant rats and their fetuses. Pregnant rats were orally administrated distilled water, corn oil, and/or DPA (400 mg/kg b.wt) from the 5th to 19th day of gestation. DPA-induced spleen toxicity was mirrored by significant upregulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1) protein expression and an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and a decrease in their proliferating capacity. These results have been confirmed through marked G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest that was observed by flow cytometric analysis of spleen cells. Moreover, the contents of reactive oxygen species and iron in the spleen tissue were significantly higher than that of the control group. DPA resulted in severe anemia, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in addition to significant changes in differential leukocytic count of both mothers and fetuses. Evidently, DPA triggered serious pathological changes in the spleen tissue of both mothers and fetuses and the histochemical examination revealed a significant increase in iron expression. In conclusion, these results implicate the hemato- and splenotoxicity of DPA and the possible role of oxidative stress and apoptosis in DPA-induced toxicity in the spleen of pregnant rats and their fetuses. This in-turn suggests the urgent need to reduce exposure to DPA as possible as it can.

Neurotoxic effect of nalufin on the histology, ultrastructure, cell cycle and apoptosis of the developing chick embryo and its amelioration by selenium

The use of opioids during pregnancy has recently dramatically increased presenting major health problems, especially on the developing neonatal nervous system development. Nalufin is considered one of the most used opioid analgesics for treatment of moderate to severe pain, especially during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was firstly to assess the possible neurotoxic effects of nalufin injection during the organogenesis period of chick embryos, and second to investigate the ameliorative effects of selenium as a supplement. Fertilized chicken eggs were in ovo injected with 0.2ml of either nalufin (20 mg/kg egg) or selenium (0.1 mg/kg egg) or both. Nalufin injection resulted in cerebral cortical layer disruption, increase of Caspase-3 immunoexpression and chromatolytic nuclei, degenerated organelles, rarefied cytoplasm and hemorrhage. On the molecular levels, nalufin induced DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest and increased the percentage of apoptosis of the neuronal cells. Selenium combined treatment restored the three-layered structure of the cerebral cortex, decreased caspase-3 immuno-expression, improved ultrastructure and recovered cell cycle arrest, decreased apoptosis, and DNA degradation. In conclusion, nalufin treatment during pregnancy imposes great concerns and should not be used during embryonic development, on the other hands, selenium appears to be a promising neuroprotective agent against nalufin-induced neurotoxicity.

Effect of prenatal exposure of green tea extract on the developing central nervous system of rat fetuses; histological, immune-histochemical and ultrastructural studies

Although, several health benefits were associated with green tea, these effects may be beneficial up to a certain dose. Higher doses of green tea may cause several adverse effects. So, there is a need to test the potential negative effects of green tea during pregnancy. This study was designated to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure of green tea extract on the development of the central nervous system of 20-day old rat fetuses. The pregnant rats were divided into 4 groups; the control group (received distal water) and the other 3 groups received green tea extract at different doses (200, 600 & 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively) from the 6th to 15th day of gestation i.e., during the organogenesis phase of development. Cerebral cortex, cerebellum and spinal cord specimens were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructure investigations. The body weight of both mothers and fetuses was significantly decreased in the groups that received 600 and 1000 mg green tea extract. Also, the neuronal tissues displayed various signs of degeneration which were evident with the 600 and 1000 mg doses. Green tea extract also increases the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and decreases the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) which were directly proportional with increasing the dose. Administration of green tea extract during rat organogenesis period induced various histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural degenerative changes in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and spinal cord of 20-day old rat fetuses. These deleterious changes were directly proportional to increasing the green tea extract dose. Thus, it should be stressed that the effect of green tea is dose-dependent and therefore it can be either beneficial or adverse.

Ginger extract attenuates labetalol induced apoptosis, DNA damage, histological and ultrastructural changes in the heart of rat fetuses

Labetalol is a medication used to treat maternal hypertension during pregnancy. However, it is often associated with many side effects. Recently, several studies have been focused on the protective effect of medicinal plant extracts, such as ginger, against drugs inducing toxicity. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that ginger aqueous extraction can ameliorate labetalol-induced histological, ultrastructural changes, DNA damage, and apoptosis in fetal heart tissue. To achieve the aim of this study, sixty pregnant female albino rats were divided into 4 groups (15 each). Group I (Control). Group II received ginger (200 mg/kg). Group III received labetalol (300 mg/kg). Group IV received labetalol first followed by ginger. All groups were orally injected daily during the organogenesis phase of gestation i.e., from the 6th to the 15th day, and sacrificed at the 20th day of gestation. Results showed that labetalol-induced marked histological and ultrastructural alterations. Also, there was severe DNA damage and an increase in the apoptotic rates determined by Annexin-V/PI dual staining assay. Injection of the ginger aqueous extract caused evident improvement in cardiac tissue, DNA damage, and apoptotic rates. In conclusion, the results suggest that ginger extract could be a potential candidate agent for reducing labetalol-induced cardiotoxicity in the fetal heart of albino rats.

The ameliorative effect of curcumin extract on the morphological and skeletal abnormalities induced by sunset yellow and tartrazine in the developing chick embryo Gallus domesticus

Previous studies have suggested that food dyes are responsible for causing number of health problems. The study under consideration aims to show the possible morphological and skeletal malformation induced due to in ovo administration of sunset yellow (SY) and tartrazine (Tz) with or without curcumin (Cur) during organogenesis of developing chick embryo at doses 1.575mg/egg, 0.375mg/egg and 3mg/kg eggs for SY, Tz and Cur comparing with control. The investigation revealed evident reduction in the weight and length of embryos as well as malformations in feather, head, and limbs. Most of the congenital malformations were seen in SY and Tz injected groups such as short beak, excencephaly, kniked tail and pygostyle, curved scapula and retardation in the degree of ossification were the most evident in endoskeleton malformation. In addition, the length of ossified long bones in SY and Tz groups was affected. Co-administration of Cur with SY and Tz ameliorate the reversed effect of SY and Tz on the shape, length, body weight and skeleton of embryos.