Histopathology of aortic media tunica and plasma oxidative stress assessment during testosterone deficiency in male rats

Sexual hormones are determinant players in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of testosterone deficiency, induced by castration, on oxidative status and the histopathology of the aor-tic media tunica. The experiments were undertaken on a batch of 30 Wistar males’ rats randomised into 3 groups, 10 control (Con), 10 castrated (Cas) and 10 castrated then supplemented with testosterone (Cas-T). Our results showed that testosterone deficiency induced a significant decrease in myeloperoxidase activity (19,95 ± 1, 79 vs 34,86 ± 1,13, p˂0,0001) this was maintained even after testosterone replacement. Furthermore, testosterone deficiency decreased the antioxidant capacity by reducing GSH in plasma (0,118 ± 0,003 vs 0,15 ± 0,011, p˂0,05). Our results also indicate that testos-terone supplementation leads to a significant increase in ceruloplasmin lev-els (62,37 ± 15,89 vs 148,12 ± 27,77, p ˂0.05). The histomorphometric exami-nation of the aortic tunica media in castrated rats showed a significant de-crease of media thickness (274,7 ± 2,96 vs 317,6 ± 5,19, p ˂0.0001) and VSMC count (108,1 ± 6,47 vs 130 ± 6,147, p ˂ 0.05) associated with damaged and broken elastic lamina. Testosterone supplementation restores the media thickness and the count of VSMC. Our findings demonstrate that testos-terone deficiency leads to a decrease in the count of VSMC and a rupture of elastic lamina. Testosterone altered the plasma oxidative status through ac-tions on GSH, MPO and ceruloplasmin.

Effect of a Carotenoid Extract from Citrus reticulata By-Products on the Immune-Oxidative Status of Broilers

Although carotenoids generally possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, the in vivo synergistic action of carotenoid blends derived from plant-based by-products has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the carotenoid characterization and antimicrobial potential of Citrus reticulata extract as well as the impact of this carotenoid-rich extract (CCE) dietary supplementation on the performance, meat quality, and immune-oxidative status of broiler chickens were determined. One hundred and twenty one-day-old hatched chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to two dietary groups, with four replicate pens of 15 birds each. Birds were fed either a basal diet (CON) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% CCE (25 mg carotenoid extract included in 1 g of soluble starch) for 42 d. β-Cryptoxanthin, β -Carotene, Zeaxanthin, and Lutein were the prevailing carotenoid compounds in the Citrus reticulata extract. The CCE feed additive exerted inhibitory properties against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and negative (Klebsiella oxytoca, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria. Both the broiler performance and meat quality did not substantially differ, while the breast muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration tended to decrease (p = 0.070) in the CCE-fed broilers. The inclusion of CCE decreased the alanine aminotransferase and MDA concentration, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase, while the activity of superoxide dismutase was increased in the blood. Catalase and NADPH oxidase 2 relative transcript levels were significantly downregulated in the livers of the CCE-fed broilers. Additionally, Interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) relative transcript levels were downregulated in the livers of the CCE- fed broilers, while TNF and interferon γ (IFNG) tended to decrease in the spleens and bursa of Fabricius, respectively. The present study provided new insights regarding the beneficial properties of carotenoids contained in Citrus reticulata in broilers’ immune-oxidative status. These promising outcomes could be the basis for further research under field conditions.

From Microenvironment Remediation to Novel Anti-Cancer Strategy: The Emergence of Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles

Accumulated studies indicate that zero-valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles demonstrate endogenous cancer-selective cytotoxicity, without any external electric field, lights, or energy, while sparing healthy non-cancerous cells in vitro and in vivo. The anti-cancer activity of ZVI-based nanoparticles was anti-proportional to the oxidative status of the materials, which indicates that the elemental iron is crucial for the observed cancer selectivity. In this thematic article, distinctive endogenous anti-cancer mechanisms of ZVI-related nanomaterials at the cellular and molecular levels are reviewed, including the related gene modulating profile in vitro and in vivo. From a material science perspective, the underlying mechanisms are also analyzed. In summary, ZVI-based nanomaterials demonstrated prominent potential in precision medicine to modulate both programmed cell death of cancer cells, as well as the tumor microenvironment. We believe that this will inspire advanced anti-cancer therapy in the future.