Growth performance and oxidative damage in kidney induced by oral administration of Cr(III) in chicken

Heavy metals and elderly kidney health: A multidimensional study through Enviro-target Mendelian Randomization

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), closely linked to environmental factors, poses a significant public health challenge. This study, based on 529 triple-repeated measures from key national environmental pollution area and multiple gene-related public databases, employs various epidemiological and bioinformatics models to assess the impact of combined heavy metal exposure (Chromium [Cr], Cadmium [Cd], and Lead [Pb]) on early renal injury and CKD in the elderly. Introducing the novel Enviro-Target Mendelian Randomization method, our research explores the causal relationship between metals and CKD. The findings indicate a positive correlation between increased levels of metal and renal injury, with combined exposure caused renal damage more significantly than individual exposure. The study reveals that metals primarily influence CKD development through oxidative stress and metal ion resistance pathways, focusing on three related genes (SOD2, MPO, NQO1) and a transcription factor (NFE2L2). Metals were found to regulate oxidative stress levels in the body by increasing the expression of SOD2, MPO, NQO1, and decreasing NFE2L2, leading to CKD onset. Our research establishes a new causal inference framework linking environmental pollutants-pathways-genes-CKD, assessing the impact and mechanisms of metal exposure on CKD. Future studies with more extensive in vitro evidence and larger population are needed to validate.

Effect of the defoliant tribufos on the reproductive ability of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

As a cotton defoliator, tribufos (S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate) is widespread in the environment. It can cause neurotoxicity in chickens, reproductive toxicity in rats, and can also cause headaches and nausea in humans. However, little is known about its impact on the reproduction of birds. Here, by analyzing the differences in reproductive indexs and histopathological characteristics, we investigated the chronic effects of 32 mg a.i./kg, 160 mg a.i./kg and 800 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment on the reproductive ability of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The results indicated that 32 mg a.i./kg and 160 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment significantly reduced the food intake of quails, significantly increased the broken egg rate, and had adverse effects on gonads and liver tissue. The 160 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment also significantly reduced the average egg production. Moreover, 800 mg a.i./kg treatment had significant negative effects on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), eggshell thickness, egg production (EP), fertilization rate, hatchability and progeny 14-d survival rate, and it also significantly increased the broken egg rate. In addition, tribufos exposure caused lesions in quail gonads and liver tissue. Overall, our results revealed that tribufos had adverse effects on the reproductive ability of Japanese quail, especially at high concentrations.

Toxicity mechanisms and remediation strategies for chromium exposure in the environment

Chromium (Cr) is the seventh most abundant chemical element in the Earth’s crust, and Cr(III) and Cr(VI) are common stable valence states of Cr. Several Cr-containing substances, such as FeOCr2O3 and stainless-steel products, exist in nature and in life. However, Cr(VI) is toxic to soil, microorganisms, and plants and poses a serious threat to human health through direct and indirect exposure. By collecting published journal literature, we found that Cr(VI) can cause acute and chronic toxicity in organisms and has carcinogenic effects, and the mechanisms causing these toxicity include endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis. However, the relationship between these mechanisms remains unclear. Many methods have been researched to purify chromium, but each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, this review summarizes the hazards of chromium and the mechanisms of chromium toxicity after entering cells and provides a number of methods for chromium contamination management, providing a direction for the next step in chromium toxicology and contamination decontamination research.

Inflammatory Injury and Mitophagy in the Cock Heart Induced by the Oral Administration of Hexavalent Chromium

As a highly toxic heavy metal, chromium has caused a certain threat to public health and livestock breeding in recent years. In poultry, as one of our most commonly consumed meat product, its health issues will seriously threaten the safety of human life. As previous studies have confirmed, when cells are stimulated by the external environment, mitochondria, as an organelle that provides energy to the cells, can cause damage and autophagy. The purpose of this study is to confirm whether Cr(VI) can cause mitophagy in cock heart. We first randomly divided 32 cocks into four groups to explore the mechanism of this effect. The cocks were then separately exposed to four different dose levels, namely, the control level and 10, 30, and 50 mg/kg levels, via daily oral intake into the body through mixed feeding for 45 days. After 45 days, we sampled and detected pathological changes and the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases), and mitophagy-related proteins (LC3, p62/SQTM1, TOMM20, and Parkin). We found that IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and LC3II contents increased with the increase in Cr(VI) concentration. However, MMP, ATPases, p62/SQTM1, and TOMM20 levels decreased with the increase in Cr(VI) concentration. At the same time, Cr(VI) exposure caused heart tissue damages and Parkin translocation. In conclusion, our results proved that inflammatory damage, mitochondrial function damage, and mitophagy in cock heart tissues were dependent on Cr(VI) concentration.

Destruction of redox and mitochondrial dynamics co-contributes to programmed cell death in chicken kidney under arsenite or/and copper (II) exposure

BACKGROUND

Sub-chronic arsenic (arsenite) exposure-induced oxidative toxicity leads to adverse effects in various organ systems, especially the kidney. Copper sulphate (Cu²⁺), known for its extensive uses in agriculture, has also been reported to have pro-oxidation properties. Both of these two potential toxic elements can bio-accumulate through food chain, thus endangering human health. However, their interaction study in the kidney is scanty.

AIM

To investigate the synergism effects of Cu²⁺ in arseniasis-elicited oxidative stress and cascaded renal injury in chickens.

RESULTS

Arsenite intoxication decreased renal antioxidant system along with ATPases. Arsenite exposure also significantly elicited disequilibrium of mitochondrial homeostasis, accompanying by elevated apoptotic and autophagic cell death. The disturbed morphological and ultrastructural changes further corroborated arsenite nephrotoxicity. These anomalies aligned with the findings in Cu²⁺ groups, which co-administrated with arsenic further deteriorated these pathological changes. This synergism was achieved partially via the inactivation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase b/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway through the activation of P53.

CONCLUSIONS

Copper excess and arsenic exposure can function independently or cooperatively to affect oxidative stress, mitochondrial dynamics and programmed cell death. These results highlighted the need to take precautions against copper and arsenic co-exposure when considering their impact in susceptible animals/populations.

Effects of force-feeding on immunology, digestive function and oxidative stress in the duodenal and jejunal mucosa of Pekin ducks

Force-feeding was considered as a traditional high-efficiency approach to improve growth performance and accelerate fat deposition of Pekin ducks. However, force-feeding is a serious violation of international advocacy on animal welfare, because it can induce serious injuries to animals, such as damages to the digestive tract, effects on immunity and even severe oxidative stress. Therefore, it is urgent to stop force-feeding. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of force feeding on immune function, digestive function and oxidative stress in the mucosa of duodenum and jejunum of Pekin ducks. A total of 500 ducks were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was allowed to feed freely on a basal diet. The experimental group was force-fed by inserting a plastic feeding tube 8 to 10 inches long down the esophagus for 6 days. Compared with the control group, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum diamine oxidase, d-lactic acid, endotoxin and corticosterone levels in the force-feeding group. The crypt depth in duodenum and jejunum showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the two groups and the intestinal villus epithelium cell was severely damaged in force-feeding group. Similarly, the activities of digestive enzymes as well as the levels of immune function in the duodenal and jejunal mucosa in the force-feeding group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). However, there was a significant decrease in the superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase levels with a marked increase in malondialdehyde level in duodenal and jejunal mucosa (P<0.05). In summary, at the end of the fattening period with force-feeding for 6 days, Pekin ducks experienced an adverse effect on the integrity of their duodenal and jejunal mucosa epithelium cell as well as their immune function and antioxidant capacity of Pekin ducks but also had improvement in digestive enzyme activities.

Correlating Live Cell Viability with Membrane Permeability Disruption Induced by Trivalent Chromium

Cr(III) is often regarded as a trace essential micronutrient that can be found in many dietary supplements due to its participation in blood glucose regulation. However, increased levels of exposure have been linked to adverse health effects in living organisms. Herein, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to detect variation in membrane permeability of single cells (T24) resulting from exposure to a trivalent Cr-salt, CrCl₃. By employing electrochemical mediators, ferrocenemethanol (FcMeOH) and ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FcCOO^-), initially semipermeable and impermeable, respectively, complementary information was obtained. Three-dimensional COMSOL finite element analysis simulations were successfully used to quantify the permeability coefficients of each mediator by matching experimental and simulated results. Depending on the concentration of Cr(III) administered, three regions of membrane response were detected. Following exposure to low concentrations (up to 500 μM Cr(III)), their permeability coefficients were comparable to that of control cells, 80 μm/s for FcMeOH and 0 μm/s for FcCOO^-. This was confirmed for both mediators. As the incubation concentrations were increased, the ability of FcMeOH to permeate the membrane decreased to a minimum of 17 μm/s at 7500 μM Cr(III), while FcCOO^- remained impermeable. At the highest examined concentrations, both mediators were found to demonstrate increased membrane permeability. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability studies were also conducted on Cr(III)-treated T24 cells to correlate the SECM findings with the toxicity effects of the metal. The viability experiments revealed a similar concentration-dependent trend to the SECM cell membrane permeability study.

Vitamin E Supplementation Ameliorates Newcastle Disease Virus-Induced Oxidative Stress and Alleviates Tissue Damage in the Brains of Chickens

Newcastle disease (ND), characterized by visceral, respiratory, and neurological pathologies, causes heavy economic loss in the poultry industry around the globe. While significant advances have been made in effective diagnosis and vaccine development, molecular mechanisms of ND virus (NDV)-induced neuropathologies remain elusive. In this study, we report the magnitude of oxidative stress and histopathological changes induced by the virulent NDV (ZJ1 strain) and assess the impact of vitamin E in alleviating these pathologies. Comparative profiling of plasma and brains from mock and NDV-infected chicken demonstrated alterations in several oxidative stress makers such as nitric oxide, glutathione, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalases. While decreased levels of glutathione and total antioxidant capacity and increased concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were observed in NDV-challenged birds at all time points, these alterations were eminent at latter time points (5 days post infection). Additionally, significant decreases in the activities of glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were observed in the plasma and brains collected from NDV-infected chickens. Intriguingly, we observed that supplementation of vitamin E can significantly reduce the alteration of oxidative stress parameters. Under NDV infection, extensive histopathological alterations were observed in chicken brain including neural inflammation, capillary hyperemia, necrosis, and loss of prominent axons, which were reduced with the treatment of vitamin E. Taken together, our findings highlight that neurotropic NDV induces extensive tissue damage in the brain and alters plasma oxidative stress profiles. These findings also demonstrate that supplementing vitamin E ameliorates these pathologies in chickens and proposes its supplementation for NDV-induced stresses.

Effects of 4-nonylphenol in drinking water on the reproductive capacity of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

4-nonylphenol (4-NP), a major degradation product of Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), is widespread in environment. In this study, the effects of long-term 4-NP exposure in drinking water on Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were investigated. A total of 45 quails were evenly divided into 15 groups and administrated with various doses (0.1 μg L^-1, 1.0 μg L^-1, 10 μg L^-1 and 100 μg L^-1, which reflected the environmental concentrations of 4-NP) of 4-NP in drinking water. The results showed that 4-NP in drinking water had no effect on quails' food intake, but significantly decreased the quails' body weights (P < 0.05) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The egg fertilization rates were also significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all treatment groups. Moreover, the hatchability was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in 10 μg L^-1 and 100 μg L^-1 groups, and the 14 d survival rates of young quails were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in 1.0 μg L^-1, 10 μg L^-1 and 100 μg L^-1 groups. Damaged spermatogenesis in male quails was observed in all treatment groups. Therefore, administration of 4-NP in drinking water impaired the reproductive ability of Japanese quails, and led to pathological lesions in the male gonads.

Effect of various selenium doses on chromium(IV)-induced nephrotoxicity in a male chicken model

Our study aimed to explore whether Na2SeO3 (Se) can alleviate the nephrotoxicity induced by K2Cr2O7 [Cr(VI)]. One hundred and five male chickens were randomly divided into seven groups with 15 chickens each group: The 6 experimental groups received K2Cr2O7 alone or in combination with 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 mg/kg for 42 days, respectively, while control group was treated with equivalent water. Exposure to Cr(VI) significantly increased MDA contents and organ coefficient, whereas decreased T-SOD activities, Ca2+-ATPase activities, mitochondrial membrane potential and GSH contents, and histological studies demonstrated renal damage. Above indicators were restored by Se supplement (0.31, 0.63, and 1.25 mg/kg), in which supplement with 0.63 mg/kg Se developed more effectively than the other two groups; on the contrary, in the groups of Se supplement with 2.50 and 5.00 mg/kg, the above indicators were not ameliorated and even exacerbated. This study demonstrated that Cr(VI) can result in kidney oxidative damage in male chickens, and Se of certain dose has the protective effects against Cr(VI)-induced nephrptoxicity.

Oxidative Stress and Histological Alterations of Chicken Brain Induced by Oral Administration of Chromium(III)

This experiment was conducted to investigate the oxidative stress in chickens exposed to different concentrations of chromium trichloride (CrCl3) in drinking water. Seventy-two Hylan Brown male chickens were randomly divided into four groups: three experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups were exposed to three different doses (50 % LD50, 25 % LD50, and 12.5 % LD50) of CrCl3 mg/kg body weight for 42 days, while the control group was given the equivalent water. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic index (glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide) were measured after obtaining the brain samples. Results suggested that 50 % LD50 chromium(III) significantly increased (P < 0.05) the contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The antioxidant enzyme activities, total glutathione concentration, and total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with those of the controls and were consistent with the increase in dosage and time. Additionally, extensive histological alterations were observed in the chicken brain, such as the vacuolization and nuclear condensation of the neurons. These results indicated that exposure to high-dose CrCl3 for a certain time could induce the occurrence of oxidative stress and histological alterations.

Effects of Oral Administration of CrCl3 on the Contents of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the Liver, Kidney, and Heart of Chicken

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of trivalent chromium on the contents of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the heart, liver, and kidney. Different levels of 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 LD50 (LD50 = 5000 mg/kg body mass) CrCl3 milligrams per kilogram body mass daily were added into the water to establish the chronic poisoning model. Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn were detected with the flame atomic absorption spectrometry in the organs exposed 14, 28, and 42 days to CrCl3, respectively. Results showed that Cr was accumulated in the heart, liver, and kidney significantly (P < 0.05) with extended time and dose. The contents of Ca and Fe increased, whereas those of Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn decreased in the heart, liver, and kidney of each treated group, which had a dose- and time-dependent relationship, but the contents of Mg and Zn in the heart took on a fluctuated change. These particular observations were different from those in the control group. In conclusion, the oral administration of CrCl3 could change the contents of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the heart, liver, and kidney, which may cause disorders in the absorption and metabolism of the metal elements of chickens.