Sex comparison of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis triggers induced by single-dose Abamectin in albino rats.

Abamectin (AB) is widely used in agriculture and has been employed as an insecticide, nematicide, and livestock pest control agent. However, it may also pose a serious threat to mammals. The primary purpose of this research was to compare the sex variations between male and female rats during exposure and to assess the risk of toxicity of abamectin, which are still largely unknown. The twenty albino rats were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5): 1) the male control group; 2) the male treatment group treated with AB (1 mg/kg B.W.); 3) the female control group; and 4) the female treatment group treated with AB (1 mg/kg B.W.). AB administration caused a drop in body weight in females more than males with showing oxidative stress in both sexes of animals, as characterized by an increase in MDA content and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Reported sex-specific effects suggested that females are more susceptible from males in brain tissues for alteration of antioxidant markers while females' liver and kidney tissues showed more level of lipid peroxidation than males. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with a significant decrease in NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I) and a significant decrease in mitochondrial ATPase, which led to apoptosis and histopathological alterations in the targeted tissues, indicating that females are higher sensitive than males to these biological events. In brief, the results of this study led to female rats are generally more sensitive than male rats to neurobehavioral and hepatic complications associated with abamectin treatment. Further evaluation should be performed to determine the adverse outcome pathways involved and to determine the effects of sex on improving the risk assessment of abamectin in both sexes.

Testicular deficiency associated with exposure to cypermethrin, imidacloprid, and chlorpyrifos in adult rats.

The testicular deficiency associated with exposure to three widely used insecticides in Egyptian agriculture was evaluated. Animals were orally treated with sub-lethal dose (1/50 of the oral LD50) of cypermethrin (CYP), imidacloprid (IMC), and chlorpyrifos (CPF) at 5, 9 and 1.9 mg/kg/day, respectively, five times a week for one month. The CYP, IMC, and CPF exposure resulted in a significant decline in animal body weight, sperm count, motility, normality, and viability with increased head and tail deformities. Significant reduction in serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testis superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. In contrast, catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and protein carbonyl content (PCC) levels were significantly stimulated. Jointly, obtained results were confirmed by microscopic examination of testis sections. The present data concluded that the CYP, IMC, and CPF have a public health impact and violently interferes with male rat reproductive system.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in liver of male albino rats after exposing to sub-chronic intoxication of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and imidacloprid.

The adverse effects of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and imidacloprid on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress biomarkers were studied in rat liver. The liver deficiency was also confirmed by histological analysis and gel electrophoresis. Each insecticide was administered orally with five doses per week for 28 days to male albino rats at 1/50 of the LD50 per insecticide. The results demonstrated that the mitochondrial dysfunction was confirmed by a significant decrease in NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase activities. Oxidative stress biomarkers include malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl content (PCC) were significantly increased. However, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) as antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased in the mitochondria of the rat liver. HPLC analysis showed a significant increase of the 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-2DG) as a biomarker of the DNA damage in rat liver. In addition, the residue levels of 0.96 and 0.29 µg/mL serum were found for cypermethrin and imidacloprid, respectively. However, chlorpyrifos not detected using the HPLC analysis. Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) analysis showed a change in the pattern and sequence of complexions of the electron transport chain in liver mitochondria with treatment by such insecticides. The hepatic histological examination also showed symptoms of abnormalities after exposure to these insecticides.

[Quantitative evaluation of infectious keratitis by anterior segment optical coherence tomography]. / Évaluation quantitative des kératites infectieuses par tomographie en cohérence optique du segment antérieur.

The clinical evaluation of infectious keratitis takes place largely through biomicroscopic examination, which presents limitations in the evaluation of the depth of the infiltrate and the exact thickness of the cornea, whether edematous or thinned. In this study, we aim to quantify the human corneal inflammatory response in treated infectious keratitis by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Patients with infectious keratitis were recruited prospectively in the ophthalmology department of the military hospital of Rabat between November 2017 and May 2019. Over the study period, 32 patients were included. A standardized scanning protocol was used. The thickness of the infiltrate, when present, and corneal thickness in any area of thinning and any surrounding edematous areas were measured. The various thicknesses gradually decreased over the course of follow-up, providing objective evidence of therapeutic efficacy in the early stages. Improvement in corneal edema and thinning was faster in the early stage. AS-OCT scanning can be used along with slit lamp examination to quantify and objectively follow infectious keratitis.