Epidemiology suggests ambient temperature is the triggers and potential activator of asthma. The role of high and low temperatures on airway inflammation of asthma, and the underlying molecular mechanism are not yet understood. A mouse model of asthma was adopted in our experiment. The BALB/c mice were exposed at different temperature for 4 h (2 h in the morning and 2 h in the afternoon) on weekday. The exposure temperatures were 10 °C, 24 °C and 40 °C. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to sensitize the mice on days 14, 18, 22, 26, and 30, followed by an aerosol challenge for 30 min from day 32–38. After the final OVA challenge, lung function, serum protein and pulmonary inflammation were assessed. Comparing the OVA with the saline group at 24 °C, we saw a significant increase in: serum Total-IgE (p < 0.05); OVA-sIgE (p < 0.01); IL-4 (p < 0.05); IL-1β (p < 0.01); IL-6 (p < 0.01); TNF-α (p < 0.01); and the ratio of IL-4/IFN-γ (p < 0.01). At the same time, there was a significant decrease in IFN-γ (p < 0.01). As the temperature increase, there is a U shape for immune proteins and pro-inflammatory factors with a peak value at 24 °C, exception for IFN-γ (inverted U-shape). After the high and low temperature exposure, the Ri and Re increased significantly, while Cldyn decreased significantly compared with the 24 °C group. Histopathological analysis of the OVA groups showed airway remodeling, airway wall thickening and deforming, and subepithelial fibrosis. More obvious changes were found in the high and low temperature exposure groups. The immunohistochemistry suggested that TRPs changed with temperatures. High and low temperatures can aggravate airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. TRPs play an important role in temperature aggravation of allergic asthma. The results suggest that asthmatics should avoid exposure to high and low temperatures for too long time.

The presence of microplastics in the various food web raised concerns on human health, but little is known about the target cells and mechanism of toxicity of microplastics. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of microplastics using relevant cell lines to the oral route of exposure. Approximately 100 μm-sized fragment-type polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) particles were prepared by sieving after pulverization and further applied the accelerated weathering using ultraviolet and heat. Thus, the panel of microplastics includes fresh PP (f-PP), fresh PS (f-PS), weathered PP (w-PP), and weathered PS (w-PS). The spherical PS with a similar size was used as a reference particle. Treatment of all types of PP and PS did not show any toxic effects to the Caco-2 cells and HepG2 cells. However, the treatment of microplastics to THP-1 macrophages showed significant toxicity in the order of f-PS > f-PP > w-PS > w-PP. The weathering process significantly reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation potential of both microplastics because the weathered microplastics have an increased affinity to bind serum protein which acts as a ROS scavenger. The intrinsic ROS generation potential of microplastics showed a good correlation with the toxicity endpoints including cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 macrophages. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the target cell type of microplastics via oral administration can be macrophages and the pathogenic factor to THP-1 macrophages is the intrinsic ROS generation potential of microplastics. Nevertheless, the toxic effect of microplastics tested in this study was much less than that of nano-sized particles.

The current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding dried sweet orange peel (SOP) and lemon grass leaves (LGL) as feed additives on broiler growth performance, serum metabolites, and antioxidant status. A total of 192-day-old (Ross 308) broiler chickens were distributed randomly into 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicates per each treatment. The dietary treatments included a control diet without any feed additive (T1), a diet containing 0.8 % SOP (T2), a diet containing 0.8 % LGL (T3), and a diet containing combination of 0.4 % SOP + 0.4 % LGL (T4) was fed during the growth period from 22 to 42 days. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass traits, serum components, and antioxidant status were measured. At the end of the experimental period, the results indicated that supplementation of SOP and LGL alone or in combination did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect BWG, FI, FCR, and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens. Serum total protein was increased significantly (P < 0.05) in T3 and T4 compared to the other treatments. Also, serum globulin increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treated groups. Serum glucose, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and very low density lipoprotein decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treatment groups, while cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein decreased in T2 compared to the other groups. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher total antioxidant status was observed in T2 compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, these results indicate that SOP, LGL, and their combination may positively modify some serum components and the antioxidant status without any beneficial effect on growth performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens.

Copper has toxic effects in fish, whereas the cyanobacterium Spirulina reportedly has protective effects against metal toxicity in various animal species. The current study, therefore, aimed to investigate the prophylactic role of Spirulina platensis against the effects of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Biochemical, antioxidant, erthyron profile and histopathological endpoints were assessed after for 15 days of exposure in five separate treatment groups: (1) fish pre-fed the normal diet (control), (2) fish pre-fed the normal diet and exposed to 15 mg/L of CuSO₄, (3) fish pre-fed the normal diet augmented with 0.25% Spirulina and exposed to 15 mg/L of CuSO₄, (4) fish pre-fed the normal diet and exposed to 15 mg/L of CuO-NPs, and (5) fish pre-fed the normal diet augmented with 0.25% Spirulina and exposed to 15 mg/L CuO-NPs. Exposure to CuSO₄ or CuO-NPs significantly increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in fish, as well as serum total protein, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations. In contrast, most hematological indices in fish significantly decreased after CuSO₄ or CuO-NPs exposure. Moreover, CuSO₄ and CuO-NPs caused a significant increase in the percentage of poikilocytosis and nuclear abnormalities of red blood cells, as well as histopathological changes in the brain, liver, intestine, and kidneys. Importantly, Spirulina supplementation mitigated against physiological disruption caused by CuSO₄ or CuO-NPs.

This study evaluated the effects of Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces boulardii, oregano, and calcium montmorillonite on the physical growth, intestinal histomorphology, and blood metabolites in Salmonella-challenged birds during the finisher phase. In this study, a total of 600 chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into the following dietary treatments: basal diet with no treatment; infected with Salmonella; T1, infected + avilamycin; T2, infected + Bacillus subtilis; T3, Saccharomyces boulardii; T4, infected + oregano; T5, infected + calcium montmorillonite. Our results indicated that feed consumption, body weight gain, total body weight, and feed conversion ratio increased significantly (P < 0.01) in T1 and T2. Villus width increased significantly (P < 0.01) in T1 while the total area was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in T1 and T2 among the treatment groups. Blood protein was significantly (P < 0.01) high in T3 and T4; however, the glucose concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) high in T2, T3, and T4. The treatments increased significantly (P< 0.01) in the treatment groups compared to the negative control. Aspirate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly (P < 0.05) low in T3 compared to the positive control. In conclusion, the results indicated that supplementation of Bacillus subtilis and calcium montmorillonite improved the production performance compared to other feed additives in broiler chicks infected with Salmonella during the finisher phase.

This study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of curcumin (CUR) vs. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against paracetamol (PCM)-induced oxidative damage and impairment of liver, kidney, and testicular functions, as well as hematotoxicity, in albino rats. A large single dose of PCM induced lipid peroxidation along with a significant decline in glutathione content and catalase activity in the liver, kidneys, and testicles. The apparent oxidative damage was associated with evident hepatic, renal, and testicular dysfunction, which was confirmed in histopathological lesions, and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities. PCM decreased serum total protein, albumin, and globulin contents; increased bilirubin, urea, and creatinine contents; and induced hematotoxicity. PCM also reduced the sperm cell count, sperm motility, and alive sperm rate and increased the sperm abnormality rate. Pretreatment of PCM-intoxicated animals with CUR or NAC substantially alleviated the increase in malondialdehyde and maintained the antioxidants at control levels. These pretreatments also minimized liver, kidney, and testicular histopathological changes and normalized their functions. CUR similarly mitigated the PCM hemato- and hepatotoxicity compared with NAC. However, it exhibited a pronounced nephroprotection, rather than reproductive protection as did NAC. Our findings demonstrate that a large single dose of PCM is not only associated with hepatotoxicity but also nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Both CUR and NAC administration provided substantial organ protection with pronounced efficacy against PCM nephrotoxicity with CUR and reproductive toxicity with NAC, which was possibly mediated through their antioxidant activities, as well as their specific characteristics.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of chromium on hematological and biochemical parameters in Epaulet Grouper, Epinephelus stoliczkae of Chabahar Bay and Gulf of Oman by ecological and experimental tests. Spatial evaluation of ecological test results showed these parameters had significant difference among some sampling sites. Examination of hematological and biochemical profiles on Epaulet Grouper was performed after 0.5, 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of chromium exposure (3.6, 7.31 and 14.6 mg/L). Experimental test results of chromium induce indicated the significant decrease in MCV, MCH, neutrophils, basophils, plasma protein and significant increase in MCHC, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and a biphasic trend in Hb, Ht, RBC, WBC, and glucose (p < 0.05). Cellular and nuclear axis, cytoplasmic volume, cell and nuclear volume, and surface area were significantly different for ecological and experimental results (p < 0.05). It was concluded that these parameters are sensitive in monitoring the toxicity of chromium concentrations.

Atrazine (ATR) is a common herbicide used worldwide. It is a potent endocrine disruptor that causes hormonal imbalance. We investigated the modulatory role predisposed by glycyrrhizic acid (GA) against the hazardous effects caused by the ATR in the rabbit spleen. Sixty rabbits were assigned into 4 groups. The first group is the negative control; the ATR group received 1/10 of the oral LD ₅₀ ATR; the GA group received 50 mg/kg body weight daily intraproteinally; and group 4 received both ATR and GA concurrently. ATR and GA administrations were done for 60 days. ATR-induced humoral immunotoxicity was illustrated by decreased serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus antibody titer, 4 weeks after vaccination. Moreover, upregulation of spleen Fas and caspase-III genes was recorded in ATR-exposed rabbits. Clear splenocyte apoptosis was observed in the immunohistochemical examination by the caspase-III technique. GA diminished the ATR-induced splenocyte apoptosis through downregulation of Fas and caspase-III expressions. In conclusion, our findings bounced a new perspective into the mechanism by which ATR induces immunotoxicity and assumed the potential modulatory role of GA.

Actinomycetes are a group of the Gram-positive bacteria famous for their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-parasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of two bacterial extracts derived from two soil actinomycete strains (S19 and G30) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)–induced nephrotoxicity in experimental rats. Sixty-four male rats were assigned to four groups of 16 rats in each group. The 1st group was kept as a normal (control) group and given corn oil combined with the used production medium, while the 2nd group received only CCl₄ (CCl₄ group). On the other hand, the 3rd group (CCl₄+S19) was administered CCl₄ and the extract of the actinomycete strain S19 and the 4th group (CCl₄+G30) received CCl₄ and the extract of the actinomycete strain G30, both treatments for 8 weeks. The results revealed that the two actinomycete extracts S19 and G30 could significantly (p < 0.01) lower the elevated levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid caused by the CCl₄ administration. Additionally, the two actinomycete extracts improved the decreased serum total protein. Interestingly, treatment of the CCl₄-intoxicated rats with S19 and G30 extracts remarkably reversed the lowered renal glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), peroxidase (Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and the elevated lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels. The histopathological examination of the treated kidney revealed that the two actinomycete extracts improved rats against CCl₄-induced kidney lesions. The present results suggested that the protective effect of the two actinomycete extracts may rely on its effect on reducing the oxidative stress and improving the antioxidant defense system.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) powder (RP) and vitamin E (VE) at different levels on humoral immunity of broilers during a 42-day production cycle. A total of 270 1-day-old male chicks were assigned to nine groups with three replicates of ten birds each, and diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, or 1.0% RP and 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg VE, respectively. Commercial-inactivated vaccines against avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) viruses, and living infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccine were administered by spray method. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were administered subcutaneously. Blood samples were collected from birds 1 week after each vaccination to determine antibody titers. At the 42nd day, blood samples were also assessed for globulin level, and lymphoid tissues (thymus, spleen, and bursa) were weighed. Neither antibody titers against viruses nor lymphoid tissues weight were affected by RP and/or VE (P > 0.05) treatments. However, broilers supplemented with 0 mg/kg of VE had lower antibody titers against SRBC than those fed 100 mg/kg of VE (P < 0.05) at the 24th day. A significant RP × VE interaction effect (P < 0.05) on plasma globulin level was observed. The findings of our study suggest that dietary RP and VE additives can interact and modulate the humoral immunity of broilers, but not sufficiently to improve antibody titers against specific virus during a 42-day production cycle.