Abeer A. Alm-Eldeen

Desert lizards undergo hibernation (brumation) to survive extreme cold and food scarcity. This study investigated brumation-induced renal adaptations in four desert-dwelling species (Uromastyx aegyptia, Varanus griseus, Trapelus savignii, and Tarentola annularis) compared to their active states. Histological examination during brumation revealed kidney degeneration, including glomerulosclerosis, necrotic tubules, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Morphometric analysis showed species‑specific renal changes during brumation; glomerular diameter significantly decreased in U. aegyptia as well as T. annularis but increased in V. griseus and T. savignii. Proximal tubule diameter increased in T. savignii but decreased in U. aegyptia, while distal tubule diameters increased significantly in T. savignii but decreased in U. aegyptia. Oxidative stress, indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA), increased significantly in all species during brumation. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased with distinct patterns within each species. Furthermore, SOD expression increased by 0.77-fold, 1.79-fold, 0.12-fold, and 0.51-fold in U. aegyptia, V. griseus, T. savignii and T. annularis, respectively. CAT expression increased by 5.24-fold, 0.86-fold, and 0.35-fold in U. aegyptia, V. griseus, and T. annularis, but decreased in T. savignii by 0.90-fold. These findings indicate that desert lizards employ distinct, species-specific antioxidant strategies to mitigate renal oxidative stress induced by brumation, with obligate brumators (U. aegyptia and V. griseus) showing more consistent upregulation than facultative species (T. savignii and T. annularis), suggesting that the intensity of antioxidant defense correlates with the depth and duration of winter dormancy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the ten most commonly diagnosed cancers. Doxorubicin is an antibiotic used in cancer treatment protocols that has several side effects. L-Arginine is a non-essential amino acid that is used as immune system activation and antitumor drugs. Therefore, the current study was designed to compare using doxorubicin, L-arginine, or their combination as a prophylactic agent against hepatic carcinoma induced by hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) injection in mice. The mice were divided into five groups: normal mice and mice that received HepG2, doxorubicin and HepG2, L-arginine and HepG2, and doxorubicin, L-Arginine, and HepG2, respectively. Liver function test as, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), caspase 3, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrotic factor (TNF), lipid peroxidation (NDA), and some antioxidant parameters were determined. A significant increase in AST and ALT, α-fetoprotein, TNF-α, and cytokines IL6 and MDA and a significant decrease in the serum caspase and liver catalase were determined in HepG2-injected mice. Moreover, some large hyperchromatic heptocytes were observed and the percentage of the positive area/field of HepPar-1, the most specific HCC marker, was 9.56%. Interestingly, mice that received doxorubicin, L-arginine, or their combination showed an improvement in some of the previous parameters. The improvement was more prominent with L-arginine administration.

Adverse changes occur gradually in the skeletal muscles with age via continuous exposure to oxidative stress. Quercetin, a member of the flavonoids family, possesses anti-oxidative and radical-scavenging activities. Therefore, this study investigated the role of quercetin to modulate age-induced changes in the transcript levels of some apoptosis-related genes in rat’s gastrocnemius muscles, up to 15 months-old. Half of the rats at each age (1, 5, 10 and 15 months old) were given a vehicle and the other half was given 200 mg/kg quercetin for 2 weeks, respectively. With the increase of age, vehicle groups showed hyalinization of the muscle fibers and a decrease of the catalase and an increase of the malondialdehyde levels. Down-regulation of Bcl2 gene and up-regulation of both NF-κB and Bax genes were recorded. Interestingly, quercetin groups showed focal hyalinization of the muscle fibers at both 10th and 15th months old. An increase in the catalase and a decrease in malondialdehyde levels, up-regulation of Bcl2 gene and down-regulation of both NF-κB and Bax genes were recorded. In conclusion, quercetin minimized age-induced alteration in the morphological structure and the expression of the apoptosis-related genes via increasing the antioxidant defense in the gastrocnemius muscle.

Heavy metals are the most dangerous hazards affecting aquatic biota in Egypt specially the Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, which is an important species in commercial fisheries. Some areas were not fully studied to screen the hazards that may affect this economic fish. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential hazards of heavy metals on O. niloticus in Al-Gharbiya Governorate in the Middle delta of Egypt. Water and fish samples were collected from Al-Qased canal, Kafr El-Zayaat Nile, El-Maash canal in Al-Gharbiya Governorate plus a reference site which is a fish farm at the Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damitta Governorate, Egypt. The results showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the lead, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and copper levels while showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the iron level in the water from all the investigated areas. Cadmium level was significantly high (p < 0.05) in Kafr El-Zayaat Nile and EL-Maash canal only. These metals were also accumulated in the fish livers and gills. Consequently, ALT and AST activities and creatinine level were significantly (p < 0.05) high in all the investigated areas. Histopathological examination revealed cytoplasmic and nuclear degeneration in the hepatocytes in all the investigated areas. Renal glomeruli and Bowman’s capsule were not completely intact in Al-Qased and El-Maash canals while conspicuous shrinkage of the glomeruli was determined in Kafr El-Zayaat Nile. Furthermore, slight damage in the secondary lamellae was detected in the gill from Al-Qased canal while in the other areas appeared vacuolated or destructed. Finally, spleen sections of fish from different sites showed the absence of melanin pigments and some vacuoles. In conclusion, the Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is affected by the toxic effects of the heavy metals in Al-Gharbiya Governorate in Egypt and this gives an alarm and should be taken into consideration.

Spinosad (SPD) is a highly selective insect control product. However, it was reported that SPD has toxicity toward other non-target organisms. This study was conducted to address the toxic effect of two sub-chronic low and high doses; 35 and 350 mg/kg SPD on some biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters of the liver, kidney and cerebellum. Thirty-six male Swiss mice were divided into three groups of 12 mice each; first group (G1) served as a control, second group (G2) received a low sub-chronic dose of SPD that is equal to 35 mg/kg, and third group (G3) received a high sub-chronic dose of SPD that is equal to 350 mg/kg. The results showed that mice which were received 350 mg/kg SPD showed a significant decrease in the body weight and a significant increase in their relative kidney and spleen weights. They also showed a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides and urea levels. Histopathological examination showed cytoplasmic degeneration and cell necrosis in the liver and kidney. Immunohistochemical examination showed that cerebellum illustrated several neurodegenerative changes and a down-regulation of synaptophysin-Syp. In conclusion, exposure to a high dose of SPD that is equal to 350 mg/kg could cause a marked toxicity on the liver, kidney and cerebellum in male albino mice.

Purpose: To explore the protective role of Mirazid® (MRZ), a mixture extracted from Commiphora molmol Engler (Burseraceae), against toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Method: Forty male Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was control and included mice which were injected with normal saline; group 2 was positive control and included mice that had no treatment for 17 days followed by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of 200 mg/kg/day MRZ for 7 consecutive days; groups 3 and 4 included mice which were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with 0.8 mL/kg of 30 % CCl₄ on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16; animals of group 4 were then post treated with 200 mg/kg/day MRZ for 7 consecutive days. At the end of the experiment, the mice were euthanized and subjected to a complete necropsy. Hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed. To estimate the histological changes, liver and kidney sections were exposed to microscopic examination. Results: The levels of leucocytes, granulocytes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides showed a significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) while the levels of lymphocytes, platelets counts, total protein and albumin showed a significant decrease (p ˂ 0.05) in CCl₄-injected mice when compared with the control groups, respectively. Histological observation of the liver and kidney showed necrotic areas with cellular infiltration and atrophied renal glomerulei with degenerated renal tubule lining, respectively. Mice that were treated with MRZ after CCl₄ showed that the levels of lymphocytes, ALT, AST and albumin had insignificant change (p > 0.05) compared with the control groups, respectively. Conclusion: MRZ partially ameliorates the toxicity induced by CCl4 in mice by improving ALT, AST and protein profiles. Therefore, further investigations are required to figure out its antioxidant potential in order to ascertain if it can be used as an antioxidant drug. Keywords: Carbon tetrachloride, Mirazid®, Toxicity, Biochemical, Heamatological, Lipid profile, Liver and kidney functions

Context Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is used to treat different cancer types, although it causes severe hepatotoxicity due to its oxidative stress effect. Rosmarinus officinalis, L. (Lamiaceae) has a therapeutic potential against hepatotoxicity due to its antioxidant activity. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract of Rosmarinus officianalis leaves (MEROL) and its efficacy against CTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and methods The phytochemical analyses were assessed spectrophotometericaly. To assess the MEROL efficacy, 72 Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups. Group 1 was control, groups 2 and 3 included mice which were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 100 or 200 mg/kg of MEROL at days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16; group 4 was injected (i.p.) with CTX (200 mg/kg) at day 17, groups 5 and 6 were injected (i.p.) with MEROL as groups 3 and 4 followed by 200 mg/kg CTX at day 17, respectively. At day 22, six mice from each group were sacrificed and the others were sacrificed at day 37. Results MEROL has a high content of total phenolics, saponins, total antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) value of MEROL was 4.125 g/kg b.w. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) value for DPPH radical scavenging was 55 μg/mL. Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg MEROL for 16 d ameliorated CTX-induced hepatotoxicity represented in lowering the levels of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lipid profile and minimizing the histological damage. Conclusions Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg b.w. MEROL mitigated CTX-induced hepatotoxicity due to its antioxidant activity.