Aluminum-induced testosterone decrease results in physiological and behavioral changes in male mice

Recently, there has been much controversy on the role of testosterone on social and aggression behaviors. This work aimed to determine the effect of testosterone decrease, induced by aluminum exposure on the level of aggression. Male Swiss-Webster strain mice were classified into three groups. The first (control group) received distilled water, while the second and third groups were administrated 300 and 600 mg/kg aluminum chloride, respectively, by oral route for 20 days. Thereafter, they were subjected to “standard opponent” test. A significant decrease in testosterone levels in the treated groups was obtained at both the low and high doses of aluminum. Expectedly, significant decreases were observed in the social contacts, threat, attack and number of fights of both treated groups in a dose dependant manner. All blood parameters revealed a dose dependent significant decrease as well. A significant decrease in both serotonin and dopamine levels was simultaneously obtained with the decrease of testosterone level especially at the high dose of aluminum. In contrast, at the high dose, acetylcholine recorded significantly high value. In conclusion, aluminum-induced testosterone decrease resulted in a significant decline in aggression, several blood parameters and levels of neurotransmitters.Keywords: Aluminum, Swiss-Webster mice, standard opponent test, social behavior, testosteron

The Effects of Quinacrine, Proglumide, and Pentoxifylline on Seizure Activity, Cognitive Deficit, and Oxidative Stress in Rat Lithium-Pilocarpine Model of Status Epilepticus

The present data indicate that status epilepticus (SE) induced in adult rats is associated with cognitive dysfunctions and cerebral oxidative stress (OS). This has been demonstrated using lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pc) model of SE. OS occurring in hippocampus and striatum of mature brain following SE is apparently due to both the increased free radicals production and the limited antioxidant defense. Pronounced alterations were noticed in the enzymatic, glutathione-S transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as in the nonenzymatic; thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GST), indices of OS in the hippocampus and striatum of SE induced animals. Quinacrine (Qcn), proglumide (Pgm), and pentoxifylline (Ptx) administered to animals before inducing SE, were significantly effective in ameliorating the seizure activities, cognitive dysfunctions, and cerebral OS. The findings suggest that all the drugs were effective in the order of Ptx < Pgm < Qcn indicating that these drugs are potentially antiepileptic as well as antioxidant; however, further studies are needed to establish this fact. It can be assumed that these antiepileptic substances with antioxidant properties combined with conventional therapies might provide a beneficial effect in treatment of epilepsy through ameliorating the cerebral OS

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Stress Effects of Oryzanol in Glaucomatous Rabbits

Purpose. γ-Oryzanol works by anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging activity as a neuroprotective, anticancer, antiulcer, and immunosuppressive agent. The present study was conducted to investigate effect of oryzanol in acute and chronic experimental glaucoma in rabbits. Methods. Effect of oryzanol was evaluated in 5% dextrose induced acute model of ocular hypertension in rabbit eye. Chronic model of glaucoma was induced with subconjunctival injection of 5% of 0.3 ml phenol. Treatment with oryzanol was given for next two weeks after induction of glaucoma. From anterior chamber of rabbit eye aqueous humor was collected to assess various oxidative stress parameters like malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, nitric oxide, and inflammatory parameters like TNF-α and IL-6. Structural damage in eye was examined by histopathological studies. Results. In acute model of ocular hypertension oryzanol did not alter raised intraocular pressure. In chronic model of glaucoma oryzanol exhibited significant reduction in oxidative stress followed by reduction in intraocular pressure. Oryzanol treatment reduced level of TNF-α and IL-6. Histopathological studies revealed decreased structural damage of trabecular meshwork, lamina cribrosa, and retina with oryzanol treatment. Conclusions. Oryzanol showed protective effect against glaucoma by its antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory property. Treatment with oryzanol can reduce optic nerve damage

Insight into the effects of H2SO4 and HNO3 acidification processes on the properties of coal as an enhanced adsorbent for ciprofloxacin residuals: Steric and energetic studies

A sub-bituminous natural coal sample (R.C) was treated with sulfuric acid (S.C) and nitric acid (N.C) as modified products and enhanced adsorbents for obtaining ciprofloxacin (CFX) antibiotic residuals from water. The characterization studied demonstrates enhancement in the surface area and the incorporation of new active oxygenated, sulfur-bearing, and nitrogen-bearing chemical groups into the structure of coal samples. This was reflected in the adsorption capacities that were enhanced from 164.08 mg/g (R.C) to 489.2 mg/g and 518.5 mg/g for N.C and S.C, respectively. The impact of the acid modification processes was evaluated based on the energetic and steric properties of their adsorption systems considering the parameters of the advanced monolayer equilibrium model with one energy site. The determined occupied active sites’ density of R.C (46.32–61.44 mg/g), N.C (168.7–364.9 mg/g), and S.C (159.2–249.9 mg/g) reflects an increase in the quantities of active centers after the acid treatment processes, especially with HNO3. The higher efficiencies of the active sites of S.C to adsorb more CFX molecules (n = 2.08–2.31) than N.C (n = 1.41–2.16) illustrate its higher adsorption capacity. The energetic investigation [adsorption (˂40 kJ/mol) and Gaussian (˂8 kJ/mol) energies] suggested adsorption of CFX by N.C and S.C mainly by physical processes such as van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, dipole bonding, and π–π interactions. Moreover, the determined thermodynamic functions including entropy, internal energy, and free enthalpy reflect the spontaneous and endothermic uptake of CFX on the surfaces of N.C and S.C

Prenatal caffeine exposure modifies development and reflexes of neonates and anxiety of young adult mice

The effects of prenatal caffeine exposure were examined on the morphological development and early development of reflexes in the mice pups, and further, the anxiety was also studied in the weaned mice using the plus-maze test. It was found that the postnatal body weight gain of the treated pups declined significantly. The normal eye-opening and hair appearance were also affected in the pups due to caffeine treatment. Measurement of early development of sensory motor reflexes in the pups showed that during the first week, caffeine had significantly stimulated the righting reflex, cliff avoidance and rotating reflexes with interaction between age and treatment doses. It was found in the plus-maze test that caffeine had significantly reduced the percentages of time spent as well as the entries into the open arms indicating for an anxiogenic action of caffeine in the young adult mouse. Also, caffeine stimulated the locomotor activity in the mouse as exemplified by an increase in the total number of arm entries in the plus­maze task. The present data support the basic conclusion that prenatal caffeine has a direct in utero action on the reflexes of the developing mouse pups and the anxiogenic action produced in them is longer lasting in nature

Enhanced oxidation of antibiotic residuals (Levofloxacin) using a green composite of ZnO@polyaniline/bentonite (Zn@PA/BE) as multifunctional photocatalyst under visible light

© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor &amp; Francis Group.Green nanocomposite of ZnO supported into polyaniline/bentonite hybrid structure (Zn@/PA/BE) was synthesised and characterised and assessed as a multifunctional photocatalyst of 1.86 eV as bandgap energy. The Zn@/PA/BE catalyst was applied in the oxidation of the levofloxacin (LV) residuals in water in the presence of visible light. The recognised oxidation results demonstrate significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity by using the polyaniline/bentonite composite as a carrier for ZnO catalyst. Using the Zn@/PA/BE at 0.5 g/L as dosage resulted in complete oxidation for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L after illumination intervals of 25, 40, 60, 70, and 85 min, respectively. This was confirmed by the significant declination in the TOC content of the treated sample (10 mg/L) until the complete removal after 45 min reflecting the complete degradation and mineralisation. The formed secondary organic compounds during the incomplete oxidation reactions were identified. The intermediate compounds suggested oxidation pathways of carboxylation/de-carboxylation, hydroxylation, de-methylation, de-piperazinylation, and defluorination mechanisms. The hydroxyl radicals were detected as the most effective oxidising species during the reactions based on the active trapping tests and probe molecule investigation. The recyclability experiments reflected the significant stability and reusability of Zn@/PA/BE as a photocatalyst during the oxidation of LV molecules.N

Genetic divergence of two casein genes and correlated milk traits in Maghrebi camels

© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).Despite the key role of casein genes and their effect on quantitative traits and technological assets of milk, few studies manipulated it in camels, unlike other ruminants. Thus, this investigation was performed to lighten up the genetic polymorphism of CSN2 and CSN3 genes, in Maghrebi camels, via PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing tools, by measuring the impacted milk composition traits. Sixty-eight blood samples were collected from Maghrebi camels in Mersa Matrouh, Egypt. Also, 68 milk samples were collected at different stages of the lactation period. Protein, fat, lactose, total solid, and ash were estimated in all milk samples by biochemical methods. The results of the PCR-SSCP and the sequence analysis showed two genotypes (CC and CA) in CSN2 gene with one SNP (41 T &gt; G) for CC genotype and two SNPs (41 T &gt; G and 462A &gt; C) for CA genotype, as showed three genotypes (AA, AT, and TT) in CSN3 gene with two SNPs (42C &gt; A and 346 T &gt; A) for AA genotype, two SNPs (42C &gt; A and 100 C &gt; T) for TT genotype, and four SNPs (42C &gt; A, 100C &gt; T, 238 T &gt; G, and 346 T &gt; A) for AT genotype. Allele C of CSN2 gene affected milk fat only at the first day and the first seven days of lactation period, while allele T of CSN3 gene affected both the studied milk composition initiated from the first seven days to the end of the lactation period. The genetic discrimination of the understudied genes may be utilized as a valuable marker in the selection of superior animals, through the favorable alleles and genotypes to improve the camel milk composition.N

Enhanced decontamination of Levofloxacin residuals from water using recycled glass based a green zinc oxide/mesoporous silica nanocomposite; adsorption and advanced oxidation studies

Glass solid wastes were recycled in the synthesis of green zinc oxide/mesoporous silica (MCM-41) composite with significant surface area (661 m(2)/g) and bandgap energy (2.43 eV). It was assessed as a potential adsorbent and photocatalyst for Levofloxacin. The Levofloxacin adsorption reaction is of First-order kinetic (R-2 = 0.99) and Langmuir isotherm properties (R-2 &gt; 0.95). A monolayer model with two energy sites was applied for more details about the adsorption process (R-2 = 0.999). Considering the steric parameters, the adsorbed Levofloxacin molecules (n) are higher than 1 on both sites (n1 (2.6-5.15) and n2 (2.99-3.18)). This suggested vertical adsorption of several Levofloxacin molecules per site by a multimolecular mechanism. The active site densities of zinc oxide as the first site (Nm1) and saturation capacity (Qsat1) increased with temperature up to 45 &amp; nbsp;C (Nm1 = 17.8 mg/g and Qsat1 = 57.49 mg/g). The reverse occurred for the second sites (MCM-41) and the best values were reported at 25 &amp; nbsp;C (Nm2 = 23.35 mg/g and Qsat2 = 69.8 mg/g). The adsorption energy (-8.16 to-25.9 kJ/mol) and thermodynamic functions declare physical Levofloxacin uptake mechanisms of spontaneous and exothermic properties. G.Zn/MCM as photocatalyst (0.5 g/L) achieved 100% oxidation of Levofloxacin (50 mg/L) and 100% mineralization after 160 min and 240 min, respectively.N