PSIII-12 The effect of maternal dietary isoflavone supplementation and infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on the growth performance of offspring

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of maternal infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on piglet prenatal development and pre-weaning growth, and the potential for isoflavone supplementation to alleviate these effects. First parity gilts (n = 24) at gestational day (GD) 65 were allotted to one of three treatments: uninfected and fed a diet devoid of isoflavones (CON), infected with PRRSV and fed the control diet (POS), or infected with PRRSV and fed a diet supplemented with 1,500 ppm soy isoflavones (ISF). Gilts were inoculated intranasally with saline or 2.5×104 TCID50/mL of suspended live PRRSV (NADC20 strain) on GD 70. To determine the effects of PRRSV infection in sows, feed intake (GD 70–114) and rectal temperatures (GD 70–91) were recorded daily, while serum TNF-α concentrations were measured weekly. After farrowing (GD 114 ± 2), two piglets closest to the average litter weight were culled either at birth or weaning (21 d of age) to determine body, muscle, and organ weights of offspring pigs. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on left semitendinosus muscles for determination of muscle cell number and size at each time-point. At birth, whole body, muscle, and organ weights were not different (P > 0.22) between groups except that relative liver weight was increased (P < 0.05) in POS compared with CON piglets. At weaning, ISF reduced (P ≤ 0.05) whole body and muscle weights, but greater (P < 0.05) kidney weight compared with CON, and greater (P < 0.05) relative liver weight compared with CON or POS. However, muscle fiber number and size were not different (P > 0.39) between groups at either time-point. These results suggest maternal PRRSV infection altered offspring organ growth, but dietary ISF did not alleviate the detrimental effects of PRRSV infection in sows or offspring.

Hepatoprotective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus tepals, stigmas and leaves on carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver injury in rats

Introduction: The present study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of stigmas, tepals and leaves of Crocus sativus on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced liver injury in rats. Methods: Hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus (stigmas, tepals and leaves) were administrated daily for 14 days by oral gavage. In the present study, 30 male rats divided into five groups were treated as 1: normal rats gavaged with distilled water; 2: intoxicated rats gavaged with distilled water and injected with CCL4; 3: rats treated with stigmas extract and injected with CCL4; 4: rats treated with tepal extract and injected with CCL4; 5: rats treated with leaf extract and injected with CCL4. Bodyweight and the relative liver weight were determined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin direct and total, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine measured in plasma. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was quantified in liver homogenate. Results: The experimental data showed that the stigmas and tepals extracts significantly prevented weight body loss and improved the relative liver weight. They significantly protected against elevation of ALT, AST, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, LDH, ALP, creatinine and MDA. Also, they enhanced significantly total proteins and albumin compared to the CCL4 control group. Moreover, leaves reduced ALT, AST, total bilirubin, LDH and MDA significantly. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest that tepals, stigmas, and leaves extracts of Crocus sativus have hepatoprotective effects on CCL4 induced liver injury in rats.

Effects of Combined Ethanol Extract of Anthocleista Vogelii and Alstonia Boonei Stem Barks on Liver Function Indices in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of combined ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei (CEAA) stem barks on the liver function indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-induced rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into five groups (n = 6). BPH was induced subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg/day of testosterone propionate in olive oil. Groups 1-3 served as normal, BPH control (untreated) and standard drug control respectively, while Groups 4 and 5 were BPH-induced rats and treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg/day of the CEAA respectively after one hour of the BPH induction. After twenty-eight days of treatments, biochemical and histopathological analyses were conducted using standard analytical procedures.Results: The acute toxicity result of CEAA indicated no mortality or adverse reactions. Significant body weight change was only observed in the first week from the group-administered 200 mg/kg/day of CEAA. Liver damage was evident in the BPH control characterized by significant (P<0.05) increase in relative liver weight and liver enzymes’ (AST, ALT, ALP) activities but a reduction in total protein and globulin levels. Treatment with CEAA attenuated the liver damage by significantly (P<0.05) reducing the elevated relative liver weight and liver enzyme function activities and elevated total protein and globulin levels.Conclusion: The revealed that the combined ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei (CEAA) stem barks possess hepatoprotective effects that could improve liver integrity and functions in BPH induced rats. Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, liver marker indices, Anthocleista vogelii, Alstonia boonei, liver histomorphology

Correction with thiocetam of lead nanoparticles influence on morpho-functional status of rat liver

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of Thiocetam on morphological changes in the liver of rats and on biochemical changes in their blood after exposure to lead nanoparticles and compounds. The liver is an organ that performs a number of functions, such as the synthesis of enzymes, hormones, plasma components and the neutralization of toxins. It is involved in many metabolic processes in the body.In undertaking this, colloidal solutions of lead sulphide nanoparticles at dosages 10 nm and 30 nm were injected into two groups of rats, PbSnano1 and PbSnano2, respectively, while group Pb(NO3) received subcutaneously a solution of lead nitrate in ion form in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg (0.94 mg/kg lead, in lead equivalent). After 60 administrations (12 weeks) of the studied substances, the exposure was discontinued and the animals were observed for 18 weeks. Subsequently, half of each group received Thiocetam by injection (for 6 weeks at a dose of 250 mg/kg) while the other half did not. We then assessed the mean body weight, absolute and relative liver weight, blood biochemistry values (total protein, albumin, glucose, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides levels in blood serum) and morphological changes in hepatocytes (morphological slides, nuclei cross-sectional area and cytoplasm cross-sectional area).The outcome of this work showed that the mean body weight of animals exposed to nanoparticles with Tiocetam did not differ from that of animals exposed to nanoparticles without pharmacological correction, but relative liver weight was statistically significantly higher than the corresponding values in rats without pharmacological correction. The morphological picture in all study group animals was characterized by the normalization of microvessel blood filling, structure of hepatic plates, disappearance of infiltration with lymphocytes and histiocytes. No dystrophic changes in hepatocytes were found. All this indicates the feasibility of preventive measures during exposure to lead nanoparticles, by administering Thiocetam.In both series of animals exposed to lead nanoparticles (PbSnano1 and PbSnano2), the cross-sectional area of the hepatocytes cytoplasm and the cross-sectional area of the hepatocytes nuclei were smaller than just after exposure, but in the series with Thiocetam adminstration, all the values did not differ from those in the control.

Anticarcinogenic potential of ethanol extract of Indigofera cordifolia Roth. (Fabales: Fabaceae) on diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

Indigofera cordifolia Roth. (Fabales: Fabaceae) has been widely used in Indian system of medicine to treat various disorders. Earlier studies showed that I. cordifolia (EIC) possess antioxidant, free radical scavenging and antitumour activities. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the anticarcinogenic potential of EIC against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma in male Wistar rats. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of DEN (200 mg/kg) and the carcinogenic effect was promoted by phenobarbital given through drinking water for 16 successive weeks. EIC at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day were administered orally for the entire study period. After the end of experimental period, changes in body weight, the weight of liver, relative liver weight, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant, serum hepatic parameters, tumour markers, DNA, RNA and protein content were analysed. Treatment with EIC significantly increased the body weight (P < 0.01-0.001), reduced the liver weight and relative liver weight (P < 0.01-0.001), restored the altered serum hepatic parameters (P < 0.001), down-regulated the serum tumour markers such as alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen (P < 0.001) when compared to DEN group. EIC treatment restored the antioxidant enzymes and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation in DEN-treated animals (P < 0.001). EIC treatment also significantly reduced the elevated levels of nucleic acid levels and restored the protein content in liver tissues (P < 0.001). We investigated the anticarcinogenic potential of EIC against DEN-induced HCC in rats. Chemoprotective effect of the extract might be related with antioxidant, free radical scavenging and reduction of lipid peroxidation. The results suggested that EIC would be a potent anticarcinogenic agent inhibiting DEN-induced hepatic carcinoma.

Hepatoprotective effect of Anacyclus pyrethrum Linn. against antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity in SD rats

Traditional remedies employ herbal drugs for the treatment of liver ailments and hepatoprotection. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of “extract of: Group I rats (normal control) received vehicle (1 % CMC), while group II rats (hepatotoxic control) isoniazid (INH) plus rifampicin (RIF) each 50 mg/kg/day po, for 28 days. Group III, IV and V rats were administered with APE 200, APE 400 and silymarin 100 mg/kg/day po, respectively, for 28 days. Concurrently, hepatotoxicity was tried to induce by coadministration of INH and RIF each 50 mg/kg/day po for 28 days in group III, IV and V rats. After 24 h of the last dosing, blood was obtained under light anesthesia and the rats were killed. Hepatoprotective effect was assessed by liver weight, relative liver weight and biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum bilirubin, cholesterol, total protein and albumin levels.: Group IV rats showed significant (p<0.01) decrease in SGPT, SGOT, ALP, LDH, cholesterol, serum bilirubin, liver weight and relative liver weight Levels, while significant (p<0.01) increase in final body weight (b. wt.), total protein and albumin levels as compared to group II rats. Hepatoprotective effect of APE 400 mg/kg/day was comparable to that of silymarin 100 mg/kg/day and the hepatic marker levels were also restored. Hepatoprotective effect of APE was well supported by the histopathological results.: Hydroalcoholic APE root possesses hepatoprotective activity as it exhibited the protective effect against INH plus RIF-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Effect of the Human Amniotic Membrane on Liver Regeneration in Rats

Introduction. Operations are performed for broader liver surgery indications for a better understanding of hepatic anatomy/physiology and developments in operation technology. Surgery can cure some patients with liver metastasis of some tumors. Nevertheless, postoperative liver failure is the most feared complication causing mortality in patients who have undergone excision of a large liver mass. The human amniotic membrane has regenerative effects. Thus, we investigated the effects of the human amniotic membrane on regeneration of the resected liver. Methods. Twenty female Wistar albino rats were divided into control and experimental groups and underwent a 70% hepatectomy. The human amniotic membrane was placed over the residual liver in the experimental group. Relative liver weight, histopathological features, and biochemical parameters were assessed on postoperative day 3. Results. Total protein and albumin levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. No difference in relative liver weight was observed between the groups. Hepatocyte mitotic count was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Hepatic steatosis was detected in the experimental group. Conclusion. Applying the amniotic membrane to residual liver adversely affected liver regeneration. However, mesenchymal stem cell research has the potential to accelerate liver regeneration investigations.

EFFECTS OF DIETARY ADENINE ON GROWTH, LIPID SECRETION, AND LIVER LIPID CONTENT

The effects of dietary adenine on growth, lipid secretion, and liver lipid contents were studied. Rats were paired-fed 0.25 % adenine diet or a diet without adenine for 10 days. The final body weight and relative liver weight were recorded. Serum lipid profiles were measured using enzyme assay kits. Lipids of liver tissues were extracted and the lipid contents were determined. A peach of liver was prepared to determine the activities of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and fatty acid β-oxidation. The results showed that animals fed an adenine diet reduced slightly body weight and relative liver weight and promoted serum triglyceride (TG), phospholipids (PL), total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein concentrations. Their promotions were approximately by 74%, 20%, 27%, and 27%, respectively. The liver PL content increased significantly whereas the promotions of liver TG and cholesterol failed to reach significant level. Furthermore, the FAS activity slightly stimulated, but fatty acid β-oxidation significantly decreased. In conclusion: dietary adenine suppressed slightly growth of body weight and relative liver weight but promoted secretion of lipid compounds from liver tissue into extra-hepatic and liver PL content. The enzyme activity of lipogenic was slightly stimulated whereas the lipolytic was significantly inhibited. Keywords: adenine, serum lipid, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, cholesterol