Waterborne atenolol disrupts neurobehavioral and neurochemical responses in adult zebrafish.

Environmental contamination by pharmaceuticals from industrial waste and anthropogenic activities poses adverse health effects on non-target organisms. We evaluated the neurobehavioral and biochemical responses accompanying exposure to ecological relevant concentrations of atenolol (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10 µg/L) for seven uninterrupted days in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Atenolol-exposed fish exhibited anxiety-like behavior, characterized by significant bottom-dwelling with marked reduction in vertical exploration. Atenolol-exposed fish exhibited marked increase in the duration and frequency of aggressive events without altering their preference for conspecifics. Biochemical data using brain samples indicated that atenolol disrupted antioxidant enzyme activities and induced oxidative stress. Exposure to atenolol markedly decreased ATP and AMP hydrolysis without affecting ADP hydrolysis and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Atenolol significantly upregulated tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (tph1) mRNA expression but downregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) mRNA. Collectively, waterborne atenolol elicits aggressive and anxiety-like responses in adult zebrafish, accompanied by oxidative stress, reduced nucleotide hydrolysis, altered tph1 and bdnf mRNA expression, which may impact the survival and health of fish in aquatic environment.

Thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivative exhibits antitumoral effect and reverts behavioral and metabolic changes in a model of glioblastoma.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-glioma activity of 3-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (AV23) in a preclinical model of glioblastoma, as well as behavioral parameters and toxicological profile. The implantation of C6 cells in the left striatum of male Wistar rats was performed by stereotaxic surgery. After recovery, animals were treated with vehicle (canola oil) or AV23 (10 mg/kg/day) intragastrically for 15 days. It was found that AV23 reduced tumor volume by 90%. Serum biochemical parameters such as triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and total proteins were not changed; however, there was a slight increase in alanine aminotransferase. The compound AV23 reverted the hypoglycemia and the reduction in body weight caused by glioblastoma. Additionally, AV23 was able to revert the reduction of locomotion caused by the tumor implantation. Therefore, the compound AV23 can be considered a promising candidate in the treatment of glioblastoma.

The sexual reproduction of the nontarget planarian Girardia tigrina is affected by ecologically relevant concentrations of difenoconazole: new sensitive tools in ecotoxicology.

The fungicide difenoconazole, widely used to reduce the negative impacts of fungi diseases on areas with intensive farming, can reach freshwater systems causing deleterious effects on nontarget organisms. The acute and chronic toxicity of a commercial formulation containing 250 g L-1 of difenoconazole (Prisma®) as the active ingredient was assessed in the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. The endpoints evaluated were feeding rate, locomotion, regeneration, and sexual reproduction of planarians. The estimated 48 h LC50 of the commercial formulation on planarians expressed as the concentration of the active ingredient difenoconazole was 47.5 mg a.i.L-1. A significant decrease of locomotion (LOEC = 18.56 mg a.i.L-1), delayed regeneration (LOEC = 9.28 mg a.i.L-1), and sexual reproduction impairment, i.e., decreased fecundity and fertility rates (LOEC ≤ 1.16 mg a.i.L-1) were observed on planarians exposed to sublethal concentrations of the formulation. This study demonstrated the importance of using reproductive, physiological, and behavioral parameters as more sensitive and complementary tools to assess the deleterious effects induced by a commercial formulation of difenoconazole on a nontarget freshwater organism. The added value and importance of our research work, namely, the impairment of sexual reproduction of planarians, contributes to the development of useful tools for ecotoxicology and highlights the fact that those tools should be developed as guidelines for testing of chemicals. Our results showed that the use of reproductive parameters of Girardia tigrina would help to complement and achieve a better assessment of the risk posed by triazole fungicides to freshwater ecosystems.

Effects of ethanolic extract of the Cleome arabica on sexual behavior in Wistar rats

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used as immunomodulatory medicines that help improve health. A total of 50 plants used for the treatment of toxicity were screened for their protective effects. Traditional medicinal are globally used and have rapidly grown in economic importance. Intrinsically active compounds are well-known for their antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activities. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of the ethanolic extract of C. arabica leaves on sexual behavior in Wistar rats. C. arabica, a medicinal plant with a foul odor, toxic, and hash allucinogenic effects. The experimental study was carried out on white rats (male and female) of the Wistar strain from the Pasteur Institute of Algiers (Kouba, Algeria), weighing between 150 and 200g sexually naive. The animals were raised in polyethylene cages and divided into two groups (n = 10 rats/group), which received a saline solution (male and female control group), 0.20µg/ml of the ethanolic extract of C. arabica leaves for seven days orally (male and female treated group). The sexual behavior test was performed according to three types of crossing. The results of the treated groups showed a significant increase in mating frequency compared to the control group. Overall, the results showed that C. arabica significantly affects sexual behavior. The ethanolic extract of C. arabica increased sexual behavior and orientation activity performance recorded in the treated animals. Thus, this study found that C. arabica has a significant effect on the rats' sexual behavior.

Effects of ethanolic extract of the Cleome arabica on sexual behavior in Wistar rats

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used as immunomodulatory medicines that help improve health. A total of 50 plants used for the treatment of toxicity were screened for their protective effects. Traditional medicinal are globally used and have rapidly grown in economic importance. Intrinsically active compounds are well-known for their antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activities. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of the ethanolic extract of C. arabica leaves on sexual behavior in Wistar rats. C. arabica, a medicinal plant with a foul odor, toxic, and has hallucinogenic effects. The experimental study was carried out on white rats (male and female) of the Wistar strain from the Pasteur Institute of Algiers (Kouba, Algeria), weighing between 150 and 200g sexually naive. The animals were raised in polyethylene cages and divided into two groups (n = 10 rats/group), which received a saline solution (male and female control group), 0.20µg/ml of the ethanolic extract of C. arabica leaves for seven days orally (male and female treated group). The sexual behavior test was performed according to three types of crossing. The results of the treated groups showed a significant increase in mating frequency compared to the control group. Overall, the results showed that C. arabica significantly affects sexual behavior. The ethanolic extract of C. arabica increased sexual behavior and orientation activity performance recorded in the treated animals. Thus, this study found that C. arabica has a significant effect on the rats' sexual behavior.(AU)

Nutrient intake and ingestive behavior of feedlot steers fed with licuri cake.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different levels of licuri cake on the consumption of dry matter and nutrients and ingestive behavior of feedlot crossbred steers. Forty-four crossbred steers with an average age of 24 months and a mean live weight of 358.19 ± 41.57 kg were used in the study. The animals were aleatorically distributed in a completely randomized design made up of four treatments, with 11 animals used per treatment: the control treatment (without the inclusion of licuri cake in the diet) and treatment with the inclusion levels of 8.5, 17, and 25.5% of licuri cake, respectively, in the total dry matter of the diet. The inclusion of licuri cake influenced the intake of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, and non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein, each of them showing quadratic behavior. There was an effect of the tested diets on the time spent on food intake and number of idle periods, which presented a quadratic effect, with maximum and minimum values obtained for the inclusion levels of the licuri cake of 16.92% and 11.00%, respectively. There was no effect of the tested diets on the time spent on rumination and idleness. The feed efficiency of the dry matter, the duration of the feeding period, and the duration of the idleness period were influenced by the inclusion of the licuri tart in the diet, presenting a linear decreasing effect. There was an increasing linear effect for the number of feeding periods and the duration of rumination periods. Given the results obtained, it can be concluded that the licuri cake changes the consumption and behavioral parameters of feedlot steers, being recommended its use in up to 8.5% of inclusion in the total dry matter of the diet.

Aqueous Coriandrum sativum L. extract promotes neuroprotection against motor changes and oxidative damage in rat progeny after maternal exposure to methylmercury.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Coriandrum sativum aqueous extract (CSAE) on the rat progeny of mothers exposed to methylmercury (MeHg). The presence of bioactive compounds and CSAE's antioxidant capacity been evaluated, and the offspring were assessed for their total mercury levels, motor behavioral parameters and oxidative stress in the cerebellum. The analysis of the bioactive compounds revealed significant amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, as well as a variety of minerals. A DPPH test showed the CSAE had important antioxidant activity. The MeHg + CSAE group performed significantly better spontaneous locomotor activity, palmar grip strength, balance, and motor coordination in behavioral tests compared the MeHg group, as well as in the parameters of oxidative stress, with similar results to those of the control group. The MeHg + CSAE group also had significantly reduced mercury levels in comparison to the MeHg group. Based on the behavioral tests, which detected large locomotor, balance, and coordination improvements, as well as a reduction in oxidative stress, we conclude that CSAE had positive functional results in the offspring of rats exposed to MeHg.

Effects of the oral treatment with Copaifera multijuga oil on reproductive performance of male Wistar rats

Copaiba oil, extracted from Copaifera multijuga Hayne, Fabaceae, is widely used for medicinal purposes, especially to treat inflammatory processes. However, there is no report regarding its effect on reproductive performance after used in repeated doses orally. The present study evaluated the effects of the oral administration of Copaiba oil (at doses of 200, 500 or 2500 mg/kg) or water (control) for eight weeks in male Wistar rats. Treated males mated untreated females, and parameters as fertility rates, absolute and relative mass of accessory sexual organs and histology and development of the offspring were evaluated. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of 22 components accounting for 99.11% of the Copaiba oil. The main compounds identified were sesquisterpenes. The reproductive toxicology results indicate that there was no difference between the treated groups compared with the control group in any of the parameters, suggesting that the oral treatment with C. multijuga oil for eight weeks does not affect reproductive performance of male Wistar rats.