Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Crocetin (CRT) is one of the active chemical compounds of saffron and has many biological effects such as antioxidant property. The present study investigated the effects of CRT on crushed sciatic nerve function. Vitamin (Vit) C was used as an antioxidant drug. Thirty rats were divided into six groups including intact, sham, crush, CRT 7.50, CRT 30.00 and Vit C 100. Nine other rats with no surgery were scheduled in three groups to receive 7.50 and 30.00 mg kg^-1 CRT and 100 mg kg^-1 Vit C. In anesthetized rats, right sciatic nerve was crushed using a small hemostatic forceps. Sciatic functional index values on days five, 10, 15 and 20 after crush were accelerated, the severities of sciatic nerve degeneration and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy were ameliorated, and the increased malondialdehyde level and the decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum were restored by 20 consecutive days of oral administration of 30.00 mg kg^-1 CRT and 100 mg kg^-1 Vit C. No significant differences were observed between 30.00 mg kg^-1 and 100 mg kg^-1 Vit C. The groups that did not have surgery but received CRT (7.50 and 30.00 mg kg-1) and Vit C (100 mg kg-1) showed no behavioral, histopathological and biochemical alterations when compared to intact group. It was concluded that CRT and Vit C produced similar improving effects on crushed-injured sciatic nerve function. Inhibition of oxidative stress, enhancement of endogenous antioxidant activity might be involved in improving effects of CRT and Vit C.

Abstract Doxorubicin (DOX), as a potent anti-cancer agent, exerts side effects in vital organs. Various chemical compounds with tissue protective properties are used to prevent the side effects of DOX. This study was planned to investigate the effects of histidine (HIS) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) ​​on DOX-induced acute kidney injury. The possible mechanisms were followed by determining the histopathological changes of the kidney along with the biochemical alterations of the blood and kidney tissue. Forty-eight rats were divided into eight groups of six animals each to receive normal saline and DOX after alone and combined treatments with HIS and NAC. The DOX at a single dose of 15.00 mg kg^-1 was intraperitoneally injected on day one. The separate and combined intraperitoneally injections of HIS and NAC at a similar dose of 100 mg kg^-1 were began 30 min after DOX administration and continued for seven consecutive days. The DOX increased kidney weight and caused congestion, hemorrhages and degeneration in kidney tissue. It also increased serum urea and creatinine concentrations and kidney tissue levels of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and caspase-3, and decreased superoxide dismutase activity in this tissue. Separate and combined treatments with HIS and NAC improved all the above-mentioned effects of DOX. The restoring effects of the combined treatment were more prominent than the effect of amino acids alone. It was concluded that anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms might be related to the tissue protective effects of HIS and NAC against DOX-induced acute renal injury.

Abstract Infectious bronchitis, being caused by a coronavirus, is a significant disease affecting broiler and layer chickens, leading to substantial losses in the poultry industry due to the high mortality rates and decreased egg yield. Nearly 30 serotypes and 100 variants were described to date; developed vaccines are being for some severe cases, like the Massachusetts strain, to mitigate the effects. Determining the vaccinal strain's titer is crucial for creating an effective vaccine, and calculating the virus infectivity in the egg embryo is very important using dilutions ranging from 10^-3 to 10^-8, from each dilution 0.10 mL is used. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the avian bronchitis virus injected into the allantoic cavity of ten days old embryonated eggs. Real-time polymerase chain reaction tests determined the viral load in the allantoic fluid. The embryos were removed to study gross injuries. The trachea, lung, and mesonephros were removed and submitted for histopathological studies, and nuclear factor-kappa B immunofluorescence analysis. The results revealed that the dilution of one-thousandth of the virus in the embryos caused the highest organ damage and viral replication. Varying degrees of hyperemia, edema, cellular infiltration, and degeneration were observed in the trachea, lung, and mesonephros depending on the virus dilution. This study provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of the avian bronchitis virus, and has a potential impact on achieving an effective vaccine.

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of combining piperine and prednisolone on clinical symptoms and immune responses in Wistar rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by Freund's complete adjuvant due to piperine known anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The RA rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): The RA rats were treated with phosphate-buffered saline, RA rats treated with piperine (100 mg kg^-1 orally), RA rats treated with prednisolone (10.00 mg kg^-1 orally), and RA rats treated with a combination of piperine and prednisolone (half doses of each orally). Treatment started on day five post-induction when all rats had a clinical score of ≥ 1. Disease symptoms were monitored every other day until day 23 post-induction. Combining the two medications at half doses led to a more significant reduction in disease severity, weight improvement, and histopathological changes compared to using each drug alone at the full doses. The combined treatment group exhibited the most favorable response in C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide biochemical tests compared to the other treatment groups. The combined treatment group showed decreased expression of T-bet and RORɣt genes. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the expression of Foxp3 and GATA3 genes compared to the group receiving prednisolone alone. Overall, combining piperine with prednisolone may prove to be a beneficial approach for managing RA.

Abstract Capparis spinosa L. has many biological effects such as antioxidant properties. In the present study, we compared the effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Capparis spinosa fruit, quercetin (Q), and vitamin E (Vit E) on monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced toxicity. The following groups were designed: Control groups (normal saline and/or corn oil); MSG group (4.00 g kg^-1 MSG); MSG + low dose extract group (4.00 g kg^-1 MSG with 100.00 mg kg^-1 extract); MSG + high dose extract (HDE) group (4.00 g kg^-1 MSG with 300.00 mg kg^-1 extract); MSG + Q group (4.00 g kg^-1 MSG with 10.00 mg kg^-1 Q); MSG + Vit E group (4.00 g kg^-1 MSG with 200.00 mg kg^-1 Vit E). All chemicals were orally administered for 14 consecutive days. Tissue specimens from the heart, kidney, and liver tissues and blood samples were collected for histopathological and biochemical evaluations. The results showed that the MSG-induced tissue edema, congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration were resolved by HDE, Q, and Vit E treatments. These chemicals also restored tissue malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase activity. Besides, alterations induced by MSG in serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase-MB were also resolved. It is concluded that Capparis spinosa fruit extract, Q and Vit E can produce approximately similar protective effects on tissue function through oxidative stress alleviation and antioxidant mechanisms restoration.

Abstract Crocin is a plant-derived carotenoid and bears potent antioxidant property. Ranitidine (a histamine H₂ receptor blocker) is used for peptic ulcer treatment. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of crocin and ranitidine on indomethacin-induced ulcer in small intestine of rats. Animals were randomized into two major groups including indo-methacin (10.00 mg kg^-1, ulcer group, 48 rats) and normal saline (1.00 mL kg^-1, intact group, 48 rats) groups. Each of these two major groups was subdivided into eight subgroups for intra-peritoneal (IP) injections of normal saline, crocin (2.50, 10.00 and 40.00 mg kg^-1), ranitidine (5.00 and 20.00 mg kg^-1), crocin (2.50 and 10.00 mg kg^-1) plus ranitidine (5.00 mg kg^-1). Indomethacin induced intestinal ulcer was characterized by bleeding, inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia and crypt loss. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), indomethacin decreased goblet cell number and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increased small intestine weight, organo-somatic index (OSI), malodealdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and caspase-3 contents of intestine. Crocin resolved all the above-mentioned parameter changes induced by indomethacin. These treatments produced no significant effects on the above-mentioned parameters of intact group. The results of the present study showed tissue protective and anti-ulcer effects of crocin on small intestine by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Ranitidine alone showed no effect; however, in combination with crocin it exerted recovery effects. It is recommended that crocin, be considered as a therapeutic agent for NSAIDs-induced intestinal damage management.

Abstract In the present study, we investigated the effects of histidine and vitamin C (alone or in combination) treatments against isoproterenol (a β-adrenergic receptor agonist)-induced acute myocardial infarction in rats. We used propranolol (a β-adrenergic receptor blocker) to compare the results. Rats were given intraperitoneal injections of histidine (40 mg kg^-1) and vitamin C (40 mg kg^-1) alone and combined daily for 21 days. Propranolol (10 mg kg^-1) was orally administered daily for 10 days (from day 11 to day 21). Myocardial infarction was induced by subcutaneous injections of 150 mg kg^-1 of isoproterenol at an interval of 24 hr on days 20 and 21. Blood and tissue samples were taken for histopathological and biochemical evaluations following electrocardiography recording on day 21. Isoproterenol elevated ST segment, increased heart weight, heart rate, serum activities of aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB and heart tissue content of malondialdehyde, and decreased R wave amplitude and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of heart tissue. Necrosis, edema and inflammatory cells infiltration were observed in myocardial tissue sections. Our results indicated that histidine and vitamin C alone, and especially in combination prevent isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity and have similar protective effects with propranolol. Cardioprotective effects of histidine and vitamin C may be associated with their ability to reduce free radical-induced toxic effects.