Habitat-, age-, and sex-related alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of mute swans (Cygnus olor) inhabiting pomeranian coastal areas (Northern Poland)

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) can be considered a representative species of birds associated with the aquatic environment and responding very clearly to changes in the environment. Assuming that the condition of the mute swan population well reflects the state of the environment, this species was used in our research as a bioindicative species. Thus, the aim of our study was to elucidate the association between metal contents in soil samples collected from a habitat of mute swans and element contents in their feathers as well as the levels of biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, oxidatively modified proteins, and total antioxidant capacity in the blood of mute swans living in three agglomerations in coastal areas in the southern part of the Baltic Sea (Pomeranian region, northern Poland). We compared the effects of inhabitation, age, and sex on the ecophysiological accumulation of metals in three wintering populations of the mute swan from coastal areas of northern Poland, i.e., Słupsk, Gdynia, and Sopot. In Słupsk, the anthropogenic pressure was related predominantly to the level of Al and, to a lesser extent, to the content of Rh and Ru. We found maximum levels of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in the blood of the mute swans from Gdynia (38.20 ± 6.35 nmol MDA·mL−1). At the same time, maximum levels of aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins were noted in the blood of swans from Sopot compared to the values obtained in mute swans from Słupsk and Gdynia. This trend suggesting high levels of oxidative stress biomarkers was also confirmed by a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity in these groups.

A Comparison of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in the Serum of Healthy Polish Dairy Goats with Those Naturally Infected with Small Ruminant Lentivirus in the Course of Lactation

The present study examines the effects of natural infection by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) in the two most common goat breeds in Poland, i.e., Polish white improved and polish fawn improved. It focuses on biomarkers of oxidative stress, oxidatively modified proteins and antioxidant defenses, ceruloplasmin level as an acute phase protein, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the goat serum. It was conducted on 24 goats divided into two equal groups: one SRLV-seropositive (SRLV-SP) and another SRLV-seronegative (SRLV-SN). Both groups were identical in terms of breed and parity. Despite infection, the SRLV-SP goats demonstrated no symptoms of caprine arthritis-encephalitis. In addition, the SRLV-SP goats did not reveal pronounced dysfunctions in oxidative stress biomarkers in the serum compared to the SRLV-SN animals. However, both groups demonstrated elevated levels of the aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins during the lactation period. In addition, both groups retained a high total antioxidant capacity in serum despite the decrease of enzyme antioxidant defenses throughout the 200-day lactation period.

Effects of a Forest Walk on Urinary Dityrosine and Hexanoyl-Lysine in Young People: A Pilot Study

A few studies indicate exposure to forests may alleviate oxidative stress in the body. However, more evidence is needed to support this potentiality. The purpose of the current study aimed at examining whether there is any difference in urinary levels of oxidatively modified proteins or lipids—dityrosine (DT) and hexanoyl-lysine (HEL), respectively, after a forest or urban walk. The study was performed on 29 university students who took part in forest walks (Shinjo Village) in Okayama Prefecture of Japan and on 42 university students who took part in urban walks in the downtown area of Okayama City. Urine samples before and after the walks were analyzed for DT and HEL excretion. Air phytoncides during the walks were also measured. We found a decreased tendency in urinary DT and HEL (p < 0.05) in most participants after the forest walks, but not after the urban walks. We further found the total levels of air phytoncides in the forest field were 1.50 times higher compared with those in the urban field. This study suggests the possibility that regular immersion in a forest environment might contribute toward weakening of the oxidative modifications of proteins or lipids in the body.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF DENDROBIUM PARISHII RCHB.F. IN THE MUSCLE TISSUE OF RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS WALBAUM): IN VITRO MODEL STUDY

This research aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of buffer extract obtained from leaves and pseudobulbs (modified shoots) of Dendrobium parishii Rchb. f. on the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as lipid peroxidation biomarker, aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the muscle tissue of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). The shoots (pseudobulbs) with leaves of Dendrobium parishii cultivated under glasshouse conditions were sampled at M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden (NBG) (Kyiv, Ukraine). Since 1999, the whole collection of tropical and subtropical plants (including orchids) has had the status of a National Heritage Collection of Ukraine and is supported through State funding. Besides, NBG’s collection of tropical orchids was registered at the Administrative Organ of CITES in Ukraine (Ministry of Environment Protection, registration No. 6939/19/1-10 of 23 June 2004). The collected pseudobulbs and leaves were brought into the laboratory for biochemical studies. Freshly collected leaves were washed, weighed, crushed, and homogenized in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) (in proportion 1:19, w/w) at room temperature. The extract was then filtered and investigated for its antioxidant capacity. The extract was stored at -20°C until use. The increase in TBARS level in the muscle tissue exposed to extracts derived from leaves and pseudobulbs of D. parishii was insignificant. The level of ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins was non-significantly decreased both for leaf and pseudobulb extracts compared to the untreated samples. The extracts obtained from leaves and pseudobulbs of D. parishii significantly increased the TAC level in muscle tissue due to inhibited the Fe2+/ascorbate-induced oxidation of Tween 80. Overall, these findings demonstrate that aqueous extracts of vegetative organs of Dendrobium parishii can enhance the total antioxidant capacity in the muscle tissue of the rainbow trout. Moreover, this antioxidant effect was more intensive for pseudobulb extracts.

Oxidatively modified proteins in kidneys of rats fed with glyphosate-resistant genetically modified soybean and the herbicide Roundup

Genetic technologies have become a tool for achieving the desired properties of plant crops instead of traditional breeding in recent decades. They consist in artificial editing of a plant genome (genetic modification) by inserting the genes encoding desired features from the DNA of one organism in another, often unrelated, species. One of the most popular crops is soybean containing up to 38–42% of proteins in its seeds, and its most common type is GTS 40-3-2 (Monsanto Canada Inc.) line of transgenic soybean. The genetically modified soybean "Roundup Ready" is resistant to the action of herbicide "Roundup" (it continues to grow when it is cultivated with this herbicide). Therefore, the study of individual and combined effects of both factors on the free radical oxidation processes in biomolecules is very relevant. Experimental research was performed on 4-month Wistar rats to study the long-term effects of feeding with genetically modified soybean and herbicide "Roundup", both separately and together, on the rat kidneys. The results of the study showed that after 12 months of feeding with genetically modified soybean treated with herbicide "Roundup" (IV group) and receiving the herbicide with drinkable water (V group), there was an increase in the level of carbonyl derivatives in the rat kidney homogenates in the first (F0) and in subsequent generations (F1, F2) of rats. The research results showed that the highest level of carbonyl derivatives was noted in the kidneys of the third generation of rats. Along with the increase in oxidatively modified proteins in the rat kidney homogenates, there was a decrease in the content of sulfhydryl groups and proteolytic enzymes in the IV and V groups, the lowest level was observed in the third generation. The use of the same transgenic soybean variety not treated with any herbicide did not lead to an increase in the level of carbonyl derivatives and a decrease in the content of sulfhydryl groups compared to control group rats. Thus, the obtained experimental data indicate that both feeding with the genetically modified soybean treated with the herbicide and receiving the herbicide "Roundup" with drinkable water lead to the initiation of free radical processes in the kidneys of rats of all three generations and imbalance of the oxidant–antioxidant system, most notably in the third generation of rats. Such research results indicate the negative effects of the investigated factors and indicate that the herbicide "Roundup" may be accumulated in the seeds of transgenic soybean and also it may increase the oxidative modification of proteins in the rat kidneys. Hence, it is necessary to carry out a detailed study of the effects of these factors on histochemical changes in the kidney and liver structure and an investigation of antioxidant enzyme activity in these organs.

EFFECTS OF MELATONIN ON OXIDANT AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUSIN THE BLOOD OF ALLOXAN DIABETIC RATS

Introduction. The experimental model of alloxane diabetes is quite common, which is often used to study the different aspects of pathogenesis and pathomorphology of diabetes. It is known that during the diabetes activation of free radical oxidation of biomolecules occurs as well as depletion of the antioxidant system. Melatonin can suppress reactive oxygen species and increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The aim of the study – to investigate the effect of melatonin on oxidant and antioxidant status in the blood of alloxan diabetic rats. Research Methods. Experiments were conducted on white outbred sexually mature male rats. In the blood plasma was determined content of oxidatively modified proteins, the ceruloplasmin activity; in the hemolisate of erythrocytes was determined content of TBA-reactive products, the measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities. Results and Discussion. The results of our studies showed that under conditions of alloxane diabetes, processes of free radical damage to biomolecules are intensified, as evidenced by the increase in the content of TBA-active products and oxidatively modified proteins in the blood of rats on 7 and 14 days of alloxane diabetes. The activity of catalase and ceruloplasmin in the blood of alloxan diabetic rats was lower than in the control group of animals but the SOD activity was significantly increased. The positive effect of melatonin is shown on 7 and 14 days and decrease the content of TBA-active products and oxidatively modified proteins blood of rats compared with untreated animals. Also, the administration of melatonin contributed to the normalization of the activity antioxidant enzymes of blood in rats with alloxane diabetes: increase of catalase activity in erythrocytes, ceruloplasmin activity and decrease SOD activity compared with untreated animals. Conclusions. The introduction of exogenous melatonin in rats with alloxane diabetes in a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 7 and 14 days cause a pronounced antioxidant effect, reducing free radical oxidation and normalizing the activity of enzymes of antioxidant defense in the blood alloxan diabetic rats.