The influence of Omega3 fatty acids supplementation against aluminum-induced toxicity in male albino rats

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Vitamin D3, and Probiotics Supplementation Improve Memory, Glial Reactivity, and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in an Aluminum-Induced Cognitive Impairment Rat Model

Globally, the rise in neurodegenerative issues in tandem with shifts in lifestyle and aging population has prompted a search for effective interventions. Nutraceutical compounds have emerged as promising agents for addressing these challenges. This 60-day study on an aluminum-induced cognitive impairment rat model assessed three compounds and their combinations: probiotics (Prob, Lactobacillus plantarum [5 × 1010 CFU/day], and Lactobacillus acidophilus [5 × 1010 CFU/day]), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 23.8 mg/day), and vitamin D3 (VD3, 150 IU/day). Behavioral outcomes were evaluated by using the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. Glial activation was assessed through immunofluorescence analysis of GFAP/Iba1, and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue were determined by measuring the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results demonstrated a progressive improvement in the learning and memory capacity. The aluminum group exhibited the poorest performance in the behavioral test, enhanced GFAP/Iba1 activation, and elevated levels of oxidative stress markers. Conversely, the DHA + Prob + VD3 treatment demonstrated the best performance in the Morris water maze. The combination of DHA + Prob + VD3 exhibited superior performance in the Morris water maze, accompanied by reduced levels of GFAP/Iba1 activation in DG/CA1 brain regions. Furthermore, DHA + Prob supplementation showed lower GFAP/Iba1 activation in the CA3 region and enhanced antioxidant activity. In summary, supplementing various nutraceutical combinations, including DHA, VD3, and Prob, displayed notable benefits against aluminum-induced cognitive impairment. These benefits encompassed memory enhancement, diminished MDA concentration, increased SOD activity, and reduced glial activation, as indicated by GFAP/Iba1 markers.

Testicular tissue response following a 90-day subchronic exposure to HTP aerosols and cigarette smoke in rats

Background

Researches have shown that chronic inhalation of cigarette smoke (CS) disrupts male reproductive system, but it is unclear about the mechanisms behind reproductive damages by tobacco toxicants in male rats. This study was designed to explore the effects of heated tobacco products (HTP) aerosols and CS exposure on the testicular health of rats.

Materials and Methods

Experiments were performed on male SD rats exposed to filtered air, HTP aerosols at 10 μg/L, 23 μg/L, and 50 μg/L nicotine-equivalent contents, and also CS at 23 μg/L nicotine-equivalent content for 90 days in five exposure groups (coded as sham, HTP_10, HTP_23, HTP_50 and Cig_23). The expression of serum testosterone, testicular tissue inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), NLRP3 inflammasome-related mRNAs and proteins (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1), the degree of pyroptosis and histopathology were investigated.

Results

The results demonstrated that HTP_50 and Cig_23 caused varying degrees of oxidative damage to rat testis, resulting in a decrease of sperm quantity and serum testosterone contents, an increase in the deformity rate, expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related mRNA, and an increase in the NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1-immunopositive cells, pyroptosis cell indices, and histopathological damage in the testes of rats. Responses from the HTP_10 and HTP_23 groups were less than those found in the above two exposure groups.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that HTP_50 and Cig_23 induced oxidative stress in rat testes, induced inflammation and pyroptosis through the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway, and destroyed the integrity of thetesticular tissue structure.

Paternal exposure to aluminum, acidity, and temperature affect fatty acid seminal profile, embryonic and larval development of Astyanax altiparanae

We investigated the effects of water acidity, temperature, and aluminum (Al) on the fatty acid (FA) seminal profile, reproductive parameters (fertilization and hatching) and embryonic development of Astyanax altiparanae. We treated males with different experimental treatments, corresponding to the combination of water temperature (20 °C; 25 °C), pH (neutral - 7.0; acidic - 5.5), and the absence or presence of Al (0.5 mg L^-1). After 96 h, we analyzed the FA profile of semen and performed artificial fertilization in activating medium with neutral pH or activating medium in the same experimental conditions of the males (neutral pH, acidic pH, and Al) to evaluate fertilization and hatching rates and to monitor embryonic development. Polyunsaturated FA percentage decreased in semen of fish from the neutral group, while monounsaturated FA increased in all groups maintained at 20 °C compared to 25 °C. Aluminum exposure decreased the percentage of C20:4n6 and increased the percentage of C22:5n3 at 20 °C. Males exposed to acidic pH and Al showed lower fertilization and hatching rates, as well as increased mortality of embryos and larvae. Moreover, Al favoured a higher percentage of abnormal larvae. Fertilization in Al activating medium harmed the embryos and larvae since fertilization and hatching rates decreased. Finally, temperature influenced fertilization time, hatching rate, and the morphology of embryos and larvae. Males exposed to Al had lower fertilizing capacity, which negatively affected the embryonic development of the species. Furthermore, Al activating medium reduced the number of fertilized oocytes, hatched embryos, and normal larvae. All events were temperature dependent.

Aluminum reproductive toxicity: a summary and interpretation of scientific reports

Publications addressing aluminum (Al)-induced reproductive toxicity were reviewed. Key details were compiled in summary tables. Approximate systemic Al exposure, a measure of bioavailability, was calculated for each exposure, based on the Al percentage in the dosed Al species, Al bioavailability, and absorption time course reports for the exposure route. This was limited to laboratory animal studies because no controlled-exposure human studies were found. Intended Al exposure was compared to unintended dietary Al exposure. The considerable and variable Al content of laboratory animal diets creates uncertainty about reproductive function in the absence of Al. Aluminum-induced reproductive toxicity in female mice and rats was evident after exposure to ≥25-fold the amount of Al consumed in the diet. Generally, the additional daily Al systemic exposure of studies that reported statistically significant results was greater than 100-fold above the typical human daily Al dietary consumption equivalent. Male reproductive endpoints were significantly affected after exposure to lower levels of Al than females. Increased Al intake increased fetus, placenta, and testes Al concentrations, to a greater extent in the placenta than fetus, and, in some cases, more in the testes than placenta. An adverse outcome pathway (AOP) was constructed for males based on the results of the reviewed studies. The proposed AOP includes oxidative stress as the molecular initiating event and increased malondialdehyde, DNA and spermatozoal damage, and decreased blood testosterone and sperm count as subsequent key events. Recommendations for the design of future studies of reproductive outcomes following exposure to Al are provided.

Tyrosol prevents AlCl3 induced male reproductive damage by suppressing apoptosis and activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway

Aluminium is a ubiquitous element that occurs naturally in the soil making human exposure to it is unavoidable. Tyrosol is present in olive oil and is known to have antioxidant effects. Therefore, the present study explores the toxic effects of aluminium chloride (AlCl₃ ) and evaluates the possible protection by tyrosol in male rats. Testicular injury was induced by the administration of AlCl₃ (34 mg kg^-1  day^-1 ). Rats were treated with either tyrosol (20 mg kg^-1 day^-1 ) or AlCl3 (34 mg kg^-1 day^-1 ). The experiment lasted for 10 weeks. Biochemical, histopathological and protein expression profiles were determined to decipher the role of tyrosol in protecting the cellular damage. Further, histomorphometric analyses of testes showed deranged architecture along with other noted abnormalities. AlCl₃ group rats' testes showed decreased GSH levels, CAT activities, Nrf-2, HO-1, bcl-2 expressions and sperm motility whereas increased caspase-3 expressions, MDA levels, abnormal and dead/live sperm ratio. However, tyrosol treatment attenuated these changes. The present results demonstrate the beneficial role of tyrosol treatment in AlCl₃ induced testicular toxicity alterations of rat.

Antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread (honey and pollen) in aluminum-induced anemia, elevation of inflammatory makers and hepato-renal toxicity

Aluminum toxicity might be related to oxidative stress, and the antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread, which contains pollen, honey and bees' enzymes, on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity was investigated in rats. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of bee bread were conducted. The animal experiment in rats included; group 1: received distilled water (10 ml/kg b.wt), group 2: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt), group 3: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (500 mg/kg b.wt), and group 4: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (750 mg/kg b.wt). Doses were given once daily via a gavage. C-reactive protein, transaminases, urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, sodium and potassium and urine sodium and potassium were determined on day 28 of the experiment. Bee bread contained protein, fat, fiber, ash, carbohydrate, phenol and flavonoids and it exhibited antioxidant activity. Aluminum caused a significant elevation of blood urea, transaminase, C-reactive protein and monocyte count and significantly decreased hemoglobin. These changes were significantly ameliorated by the use of bee bread. Bee bread has an antioxidant property, and exhibited a protective effect on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity and elevation of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, leukocyte and monocyte counts.

Aluminum exposure for 60days at human dietary levels impairs spermatogenesis and sperm quality in rats

Concerns about environmental aluminum (Al) and reproductive health have been raised. We investigated the effects of Al exposure at a human relevant dietary level and a high level exposure to Al. Experiment 1 (Lower level) rats were treated orally for 60 days: a) controls - ultrapure water; b) aluminum at 1.5mg/kg bw/day and c) aluminum at 8.3mg/kg bw/day. Experiment 2 (High level) rats were treated for 42 days: a) controls - ultrapure water; b) aluminum at 100mg/kg bw/day. Al decreased sperm count, daily sperm production, sperm motility, normal morphological sperm, impaired testis histology; increased oxidative stress in reproductive organs and inflammation in testis. Our study shows the specific presence of Al in the germinative cells and, that low concentrations of Al in testes (3.35μg/g) are sufficient to impair spermatogenesis and sperm quality. Our findings provide a better understanding of the reproductive health risk of Al.

Exogenous phosphatidylcholine supplementation retrieve aluminum-induced toxicity in male albino rats

This study investigated the ameliorative potential of exogenous phosphatidylcholine (PC) against aluminum-induced toxicity in male albino rats. Four groups of rats were used for this study (N = 8): group I served as the control, group II (PC treated) received L-α-phosphatidylcholine (egg yolk-derived) 100 mg/kg bwt/day orally, group III (aluminum treated) received aluminum chloride 100 mg/kg bwt/day orally, and group VI (aluminum + PC treated) received similar oral dose of aluminum and PC (100 mg/kg bwt/day). Treatment was continued for 8 weeks. Results revealed that aluminum chloride treatment leading to a significant elevation in serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde, serum cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6), and brain content of acetylcholine, as well as a significant reduction in serum-reduced glutathione, serum testosterone, and brain content of acetylcholinesterase. Moreover, aluminum administration caused significant histopathological alteration in liver, kidney, brain, testes, and epididymis. Co-treatment with exogenous PC resulted in significant improvement in intensity of histopathologic lesions, serum parameters, testosterone level, proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative/antioxidative status. However, it does not affect the brain content of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase. Conclusively, treatment with exogenous PC can retrieve the adverse effect of aluminum toxicities through its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.