Histomorphometry aspect of thyroid gland and biochemical profile in pregnant and non-pregnant dromedary camels

Modulation of body physiology and metabolism is a prerequisite for successful pregnancy in camels, which is about a year and few months. The present study was carried out to verify the effect of pregnancy on histomorphometry and functional traits of thyroid gland, as well as some biochemical indices of liver and kidney functions and mineral profile in one humped camels, under Egyptian climatic conditions or desert conditions. The thyroid tissues were fixed in 10% formalin solution and processed following routine histological techniques after gross examination and biometric assessment. Serum levels of thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxineand thyroid stimulating hormone), serum blood metabolites (total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), liver enzymatic activity (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), and minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus) were estimated in pregnant (n=30) and non-pregnant (n=30) camels. There were no significant differences between the right and left thyroid lobes between pregnant and non-pregnant camel. Pregnant status in camels had insignificant influence on histological and functional traits of thyroid as well as serum blood metabolites, liver enzymes and minerals levels, as compared with non-pregnant animals during the first six months of pregnancy. Therefore, reproductive status (during early pregnancy) has no substantial effect on camel physiological mechanisms or metabolic activity.Key words: Biochemical, dromedary, histology, thyroid gland, thyroid hormones

Thiopurine Methyltransferase Predicts the Extent of Cytotoxicty and DNA Damage in Astroglial Cells after Thioguanine Exposure

Thiopurine methyltransferase (Tpmt) is the primary enzyme responsible for deactivating thiopurine drugs. Thiopurine drugs (i.e., thioguanine [TG], mercaptopurine, azathioprine) are commonly used for the treatment of cancer, organ transplant, and autoimmune disorders. Chronic thiopurine therapy has been linked to the development of brain cancer (most commonly astrocytomas), and Tpmt status has been associated with this risk. Therefore, we investigated whether the level of Tpmt protein activity could predict TG-associated cytotoxicity and DNA damage in astrocytic cells. We found that TG induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner in Tpmt+/+, Tpmt+/− and Tpmt−/− primary mouse astrocytes and that a low Tpmt phenotype predicted significantly higher sensitivity to TG than did a high Tpmt phenotype. We also found that TG exposure induced significantly more DNA damage in the form of single strand breaks (SSBs) and double strand breaks (DSBs) in primary astrocytes with low Tpmt versus high Tpmt. More interestingly, we found that Tpmt+/− astrocytes had the highest degree of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity (i.e., IC50, SSBs and DSBs) after TG exposure. We then used human glioma cell lines as model astroglial cells to represent high (T98) and low (A172) Tpmt expressers and found that A172 had the highest degree of cytoxicity and SSBs after TG exposure. When we over-expressed Tpmt in the A172 cell line, we found that TG IC50 was significantly higher and SSB's were significantly lower as compared to mock transfected cells. This study shows that low Tpmt can lead to greater sensitivity to thiopurine therapy in astroglial cells. When Tpmt deactivation at the germ-line is considered, this study also suggests that heterozygosity may be subject to the greatest genotoxic effects of thiopurine therapy

Modification of Hematite Photoanode with Cobalt Based Oxygen Evolution Catalyst via Bifunctional Linker Approach for Efficient Water Splitting

The modification of hematite photoanode with cheap, scalable, and efficient oxygen evolution catalyst is an essential step for its practical application for solar fuel production. In this paper, a simple and water-based method has been developed for the modification of hematite surface with cobalt based oxygen evolution catalyst using 3-aminopropionic acid (APA) as a bifunctional linker. APA exists in an aqueous solution at pH 6.1 in zwitterionic form and thus it has a positive charge on the protonated amino group and a negative charge on the carboxylate group. The carboxylate groups of APA molecules can thus interact with the protonated surface hydroxyl groups of hematite whereas the amino groups tether the cobalt ions. The hematite photoanodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that Co/APA–hematite photoanode exhibit 3.8-, 3.2-, and 2-fold higher photocurrent at 1.23 V vs RHE than bare, Co–, and CoPi–hematite photoanodes, respectively. Moreover, the onset potential of photoelectrochemical water oxidation on Co/APA–hematite photoanode is cathodically shifted by 290 mV in comparison to that obtained on bare hematite photoanode. This finding has been explained by measuring the transient photocurrent and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy responses. On the basis of these measurements, it was found that the rate constant of electron transfer at Co/APA–hematite photoanode/liquid interface is higher than that measured for bare and CoPi–hematite photoelectrodes. This explains the higher photoelectrochemical activity of Co/APA–hematite photoanode and reflects on the potential application of this simple approach for the modification of different metal oxide photoelectrodes with cobalt-based oxygen evolution catalyst

Effect of epidermal growth factor on buffalo frozen spermatozoa biometry and metabolic activity

Objective: To assess the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the Egyptian buffalo bull frozen semen, EGF was incorporated at 0 (control), 50, 100, 200 and 400 ng/mL of extender (Bioxcell®).Methods: Semen features, spermatozoa biometry, total liberated amounts of enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) and lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were determined in the spermatozoa-free extracellular extender.Results: Spermatozoa membrane integrity significantly (P<0.05) increased, but DNA integrity decreased with EGF 200 ng/mL. Spermatozoa head (dimensions, area and perimeter), but not shape, as well as acrosome and midpiece measures substantially differed with regard to EGF. Principle piece length and volume markedly decreased (at 100 and 200 ng/mL), while total tail/flagellum length increased (at 50 ng/mL) after EGF supplementation. EGF 50 ng/mL was associated with the decline of nitric oxide levels and catalase enzyme activity, but EGF 100 ng/mL significantly decreased the total liberated amounts of enzymes (aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) as well as lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and malondialdehyde).Conclusions: EGF in vitro supplementation would affect the semen characteristics of buffalo bull with 100 ng/mL counteracted the freezing mediated oxidative stress indicated with the lowest enzymes leakage and lipid peroxidation

Effect of reproductive status on body condition score, progesterone concentration and trace minerals in sheep and goats reared in South Sinai, Egypt

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of reproductive stage on nutritional status, and hormonal and trace mineral levels in sheep and goats reared in harsh arid conditions in South Sinai, Egypt. Egyptian local breeds of sheep (n=74) and goats (n=58) raised in South Sinai were examined by means of transabdominal ultrasonography to verify single vs. multiple feti pregnancy or non-pregnant status. Serum samples were collected for assessment of progesterone and trace minerals (selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe)) levels. Evaluation of the nutritional status of animal flocks showed that the mean body condition score was below the average levels, but did vary noticeably with pregnancy or between sheep and goats. Serum progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant animals with multiple fetuses than those bearing single fetus (p &lt; 0.01), and both were higher than the respective values in non-pregnant animals (p &lt; 0.001). Serum trace mineral levels were too low with no significant differences caused by pregnancy, number of fetuses or animal species. From these results, we could conclude that the state of pregnancy and fetal number have a significant influence on serum levels of progesterone. However, the harsh conditions in South Sinai in terms of scarce precipitation, low cultivation chances and high water salinity are the major factors influencing nutritional status or trace mineral levels in the reared small ruminants, regardless of the reproductive state or species.Keywords: Goat, pregnancy, progesterone, reproductive status, sheep, South Sinai, trace mineral

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation on Nanostructured Hematite Photoanodes via p‑CaFe₂O₄/n-Fe₂O₃ Heterojunction Formation

In this paper, nanostructured hematite p-CaFe₂O₄/n-Fe₂O₃ heterojunction photoanodes have been fabricated employing a facile template-less film processing technique by controlling the chemical bath. Anisotropic growth of a β-FeOOH akaganeite film on FTO conductive glass from an aqueous FeCl₃ solution containing CaCl₂ followed by a two-step thermal annealing at 550 and 800 °C induces the formation of a p-CaFe₂O₄/n-Fe₂O₃ heterojunction. The structural, morphological, electronic states, and electrochemical characteristics of the films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The heterojunction photoanode showed 100% higher photocurrent response than that obtained using a bare hematite electrode under simulated 1-sun illumination (100 mW/cm²). The photocurrent enhancement is attributed to the enhanced charge carrier separation and the reduced resistance in the charge transfer across the electrode and the electrolyte as revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. The modification of the p-CaFe₂O₄/n-Fe₂O₃ heterojunction photoanode with CoPi cocatalyst further facilitates the electron transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface and thus enhances the photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Since cheap and abundant materials have been employed for the synthesis of the heterojunction photoanode via a simple route, the current results have great importance, both from a scientific and an economical point of view