Search Results (8,401)

Anthropogenic noise pollution is a significant global environmental issue that adversely affects the behavior, physiology, and auditory functions of aquatic species. However, studies on the effects of underwater noise on early developmental stages of fish remain scarce, particularly regarding the differential impacts of daytime versus nighttime noise exposure. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to control group (no additional noise), daytime noise (100–1000 Hz, 130 dB, from 08:00 to 20:00) or nighttime noise (100–1000 Hz, 130 dB, from 20:00 to 08:00) for 5 days, and their embryonic development and oxidative stress levels were analyzed. Compared to the control group, the results indicated that exposure to both daytime and nighttime noise led to delays in embryo hatching time and a significant decrease in larval heart rate. Notably, exposure to nighttime noise significantly increased the larval deformity rate. Noise exposure, particularly at night, elevated the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), accompanied by upregulation of antioxidant-related gene expression levels. Nighttime noise exposure significantly increased the abnormality rate of otolith development in larvae and markedly downregulated the expression levels of otop1 related to otolith development regulation, while daytime noise exposure only induced a slight increase in the otolith abnormality rate. After noise exposure, the number of lateral neuromasts in larvae decreased slightly, yet genes (slc17a8 and capgb) related to hair cell development were significantly upregulated. Overall, this study demonstrates that both daytime and nighttime noise can induce oxidative stress and impair embryonic development of zebrafish, with nighttime noise causing more severe damage. Full article

(1) Background: The goal of the present study was to evaluate whether the supplementation with a multi-species probiotic in the diet of laying hens can change the microbiota and health status of the oviduct. (2) Methods: A total of 60 cages housing lightweight laying hens (36 weeks old) were randomly assigned to the following two different treatments: a control group fed a diet without probiotic, and a treatment group receiving diets supplemented with 50 g/ton of probiotics. The trial lasted for 26 weeks, after which five layers were slaughtered per treatment for oviduct (magnum) assessment, focusing on microbiome composition, oxidant and antioxidant status, and morphological analyses. Additionally, intestinal (jejunum) samples were collected to determine oxidant and antioxidant status. (3) Results: Probiotic supplementation resulted in lower counts of organisms from the RB41 order (p = 0.039) and Burkholderia genus (p = 0.017), and a total reduction in Bacillus and Corynebacterium (p = 0.050) compared to the control treatment. Genera Burkholderia (p = 0.017), Corynebacterium (p = 0.050), and Bacillus (p = 0.050) were also lower with the probiotic supplementation in relation to the control. Genera Epulopiscium (p = 0.089), Flavobacterium (p = 0.100), Ruminococcus (p = 0.089), and Staphylococcus (p = 0.100) tended to be lower in the probiotic group compared to the control. No significant differences were found between treatments for oviduct lesions. Probiotic treatment resulted in a higher protein thiol level in the intestine compared to the control (p < 0.001). However, the use of probiotics tended to reduce glutathione S-transferase levels in the oviduct compared to the control (p = 0.068). (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that dietary supplementation with probiotics can modulate the oviduct microbiota and improve the antioxidant status of laying hens, without causing tissue damage. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term implications of these changes on reproductive performance and egg quality. Full article

Waterfowl semen cryopreservation technology is a key link in genetic resource conservation and artificial breeding, but poultry spermatozoa, due to their unique morphology and biochemical properties, are prone to oxidative stress during freezing, resulting in a significant decrease in vitality. In this study, we first used four different freezing procedures (P1–P4) to freeze duck semen and compared their effects on duck sperm quality. Then, the changes in antioxidant indexes in semen were monitored. The results showed that program P4 (initial 7 °C/min slow descent to −35 °C, followed by 60 °C/min rapid descent to −140 °C) was significantly better than the other programs (p < 0.05), and its post-freezing sperm vitality reached 71.41%, and the sperm motility was 51.73%. In the P1 and P3 groups, the sperm vitality was 65.56% and 53.41%, and the sperm motility was 46.99% and 31.76%, respectively. In terms of antioxidant indexes, compared with the fresh semen group (CK), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in the P2 group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while the activities of SOD and CAT in the P4 group showed no significant changes (p > 0.05) except that the activity of GSH-px was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). And the CAT and GSH-px activities in the P4 group were significantly higher than those in the P2 group (p < 0.05). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the P2 group was significantly higher than that in the fresh semen group (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the P2 group and the P4 group (p > 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) content of the P2 and P4 groups was significantly lower than that of the fresh semen group (p < 0.05). The staged cooling strategy of P4 was effective in reducing the exposure time to the hypertonic environment by balancing intracellular dehydration and ice crystal inhibition, shortening the reactive oxygen species accumulation and alleviating oxidative stress injury. On the contrary, the multi-stage slow-down strategy of P2 exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction and the oxidative stress cascade response due to prolonged cryogenic exposure time. The present study confirmed that the freezing procedure directly affects duck sperm quality by modulating the oxidative stress pathway and provides a theoretical basis for the standardization of duck semen cryopreservation technology. Full article

Peanut cultivation is widely practiced using plastic mulch film, resulting in the accumulation of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) in agricultural soils, potentially negatively affecting peanut growth. To investigate the effects of two polystyrene (PS) sizes (5 μm, 50 nm) and three concentrations (0, 10, and 100 mg L⁻¹) on peanut growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and physiological characteristics, a 15-day hydroponic experiment was conducted using peanut seedlings as the experimental material. The results indicated that PS-MPs/NPs inhibited peanut growth, reduced soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) values (6.7%), and increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, 22.0%), superoxide anion (O₂⁻, 3.8%) superoxide dismutase (SOD, 16.1%) and catalase (CAT, 12.1%) activity, and ascorbic acid (ASA, 12.6%) and glutathione (GSH, 9.1%) contents compared to the control. Moreover, high concentrations (100 mg L⁻¹) of PS-MPs/NPs reduced the peanut shoot fresh weight (16.1%) and SPAD value (7.2%) and increased levels of MDA (17.1%), O₂⁻ (5.6%), SOD (10.6%), POD (27.2%), CAT (7.3%), ASA (12.3%), and GSH (6.8%) compared to low concentrations (10 mg L⁻¹) of PS-MPs/NPs. Notably, under the same concentration, the impact of 50 nm PS-NPs was stronger than that of 5 μm PS-MPs. The peanut shoot fresh weight of PS-NPs was lower than that of PS-MPs by an average of 7.9%. Additionally, we found that with an increasing exposure time of PS-MPs/NPs, the inhibitory effect of low concentrations of PS-MPs/NPs on the fresh weight was decreased by 2.5%/9.9% (5 d) and then increased by 7.7%/2.7% (15 d). Conversely, high concentrations of PS-MPs/NPs consistently reduced the fresh weight. Correlation analysis revealed a clear positive correlation between peanut biomass and both the SPAD values as well as Fv/Fm, and a negative correlation with MDA, SOD, CAT, ASA, and GSH. Furthermore, the presence of PS-MPs/NPs in roots, stems, and leaves was confirmed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The internalization of PS-MPs/NPs within peanut tissues negatively impacted peanut growth by increasing the MDA and O₂⁻ levels, reducing the SPAD values, and inhibiting the photosynthetic capacity. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the effects of PS on peanuts were correlated with the PS size, concentration, and exposure time, highlighting the potential risk of 50 nm to 5 μm PS being absorbed by peanuts. Full article

Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-allergic properties, is extensively found in foods and holds significant importance for human health. In this study, a simple switch-off fluorescent sensor based on copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) was proposed for the sensitive determination of quercetin. Glutathione acted as the reducing and protective agent in the synthesized process of Cu NCs via a facile, green one-pot method. As anticipated, the glutathione-capped Cu NCs (GSH-Cu NCs) exhibited favorable water solubility and ultrasmall size. The fluorescence property of GSH-Cu NCs was further enhanced with Al³⁺ ion through the aggregation-induced emission effect. When quercetin was present in the sample solution, the system exhibited effective fluorescence quenching, which was attributed to the internal filter effect. The GSH-Cu NCs/Al³⁺-based fluorescent sensor showed a good linear relationship to quercetin in the concentration range from 0.1 to 60 μM. A detection limit of 24 nM was obtained. Moreover, the constructed sensor was employed for the successful determination of quercetin in tea samples. Full article

Biothiols, including cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH), are crucial for physiological regulation and their imbalance poses severe health risks. Herein, we developed a pH-responsive liquid crystal (LC)-based sensing platform for detection of biothiols by doping 4-n-pentylbiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (PBA) into 4-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). Urease catalyzed urea hydrolysis to produce OH⁻, triggering the deprotonation of PBA, thereby inducing a vertical alignment of LC molecules at the interface corresponding to dark optical appearances. Heavy metal ions (e.g., Hg²⁺) could inhibit urease activity, under which condition LC presents bright optical images and LC molecules maintain a state of tilted arrangement. However, biothiols competitively bind to Hg²⁺, the activity of urease is maintained which enables the occurrence of urea hydrolysis. This case triggers LC molecules to align in a vertical orientation, resulting in bright optical images. This pH-driven reorientation of LCs provides a visual readout (bright-to-dark transition) correlated with biothiol concentration. The detection limits of Cys/Hcy and GSH for the PBA-doped LC platform are 0.1 μM and 0.5 μM, respectively. Overall, this study provides a simple, label-free and low-cost strategy that has a broad application prospect for the detection of biothiols. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are often seen solely as harmful byproducts of oxidative metabolism, yet evidence reveals their paradoxical roles in both promoting and inhibiting cancer progression. Despite advances, precise context-dependent mechanisms by which ROS modulate oncogenic signaling, therapeutic response, and tumor microenvironment dynamics remain unclear. Specifically, the spatial and temporal aspects of ROS regulation (i.e., the distinct effects of mitochondrial versus cytosolic ROS on the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways, and the differential cellular outcomes driven by acute versus chronic ROS exposure) have been underexplored. Additionally, the specific contributions of ROS-generating enzymes, like NOX isoforms and xanthine oxidase, to tumor microenvironment remodeling and immune modulation remain poorly understood. This review synthesizes current findings with a focus on these critical gaps, offering novel mechanistic insights into the dualistic nature of ROS in cancer biology. By systematically integrating data on ROS source-specific functions and redox-sensitive signaling pathways, the complex interplay between ROS concentration, localization, and persistence is elucidated, revealing how these factors dictate the paradoxical support of tumor progression or induction of cancer cell death. Particular attention is given to antioxidant mechanisms, including NRF2-mediated responses, that may undermine the efficacy of ROS-targeted therapies. Recent breakthroughs in redox biosensors (i.e., redox-sensitive fluorescent proteins, HyPer variants, and peroxiredoxin–FRET constructs) enable precise, real-time ROS imaging across subcellular compartments. Translational advances, including redox-modulating drugs and synthetic lethality strategies targeting glutathione or NADPH dependencies, further highlight actionable vulnerabilities. This refined understanding advances the field by highlighting context-specific vulnerabilities in tumor redox biology and guiding more precise therapeutic strategies. Continued research on redox-regulated signaling and its interplay with inflammation and therapy resistance is essential to unravel ROS dynamics in tumors and develop targeted, context-specific interventions harnessing their dual roles. Full article

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss among the elderly, and is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. While genetic associations in AMD are well-established, the molecular mechanisms underlying disease onset and progression remain poorly understood. A growing body of evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications may serve as a potential missing link regulating gene–environment interactions. This review incorporates recent findings on DNA methylation, including both hypermethylation and hypomethylation patterns affecting genes such as silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), glutathione S-transferase isoform (GSTM), and SKI proto-oncogene (SKI), which may influence key pathophysiological drivers of AMD. We also examine histone modification patterns, chromatin accessibility, the status of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in AMD pathogenesis and in regulating pathways pertinent to the pathophysiology of the disease. While the field of ocular epigenetics remains in its infancy, accumulating evidence to date points to a burgeoning role for epigenetic regulation in AMD, pre-clinical studies have yielded promising findings for the prospect of epigenetics as a future therapeutic avenue. Full article

Oxidative stress significantly contributes to the exacerbation of brain damage during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIR/I). In our previous study, purified cornel iridoid glycoside (PCIG), consisting of morroniside (MOR) and loganin (LOG), showed neuroprotective effects against CIR/I. To further explore the antioxidative effects and underlying molecular mechanisms, we applied PCIG, MOR, and LOG to rats injured by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) as well as H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cells. Additionally, the molecular docking analysis was performed to assess the interaction between the PCIG constituents and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). The results showed that the treated rats experienced fewer neurological deficits, reduced lesion volumes, and lower cell death accompanied by decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl, as well as increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). In H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cells, the treatments decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitigated mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibited mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, the treatments facilitated Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) translocation into the nucleus and selectively increased the expression of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) through MOR and LOG, respectively. Both MOR and LOG demonstrated strong binding affinity to Keap1. These findings suggested that PCIG, rather than any individual components, might serve as a valuable treatment for ischemic stroke by activating the Nrf2/NQO-1 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Full article

The present study evaluated the effect of adding 0% (control), 30%, 40% and 50% SPMs (small-peptide chelating trace minerals) to replace ITMs (inorganic trace minerals) in the diets of Litopenaeus vannamei; 720 shrimp were randomly assigned to four treatments (six replicates per group, 30 shrimp per replicate) in a 42-day feeding trial. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the control, 40% SPM and 50% SPM groups in terms of the survival rate, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, condition factor, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or protein efficiency ratio; however, protein efficiency ratio was reduced in the 30% SPM group (p < 0.05). Glucose, triglyceride, and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the hemolymph of the 30% SPM group were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the glucose and aspartate aminotransferase levels were also significantly increased in the 40% SPM group (p < 0.05). In the 50% SPM group, the glucose and triglyceride levels were also significantly increased (p < 0.05). Hepatopancreatic alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated at 40% SPM, and alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity activities were significantly increased in the 50% SPM group (p < 0.05). The moisture content and drip loss were reduced in both the 40% and 50% SPM groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, replacing 40–50% ITMs with SPMs can maintain growth performance while enhancing physiological functions. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that the incorporation of 30–50% SPMs into one’s diet constitutes a viable alternative to 100% ITMs. Full article

Plastic pollution in marine environments poses a new global threat. Microplastics (MPs) can bioaccumulate in marine organisms, leading to oxidative stress (OS). This study investigates MP accumulation and associated OS responses in six invertebrate species (Bivalvia, Gastropoda, and Malacostraca) and three key fish species of the Bulgarian Black Sea ecosystems. The target hydrobionts were collected from nine representative coastal habitats of the northern and southern aquatory. MPs were quantified microscopically, and OS biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes) were analyzed spectrometrically in fish liver and gills and invertebrate soft tissues (STs). The specific OS (SOS) index was calculated as a composite indicator of the ecological impact, incl. MP effects. The results revealed species-specific MP bioaccumulation, with the highest concentrations in Palaemon adspersus, Rathke (1837) (0.99 ± 1.09 particles/g ST) and the least abundance in Bittium reticulatum (da Costa, 1778) (0.0033 ± 0.0025 particles/g ST). In Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758), the highest accumulation of MPs was present (2.01 ± 2.56 particles/g muscle). The correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between MP counts and catalase activity in all examined species. The SOS index varied among species, reflecting different stress responses, and this indicated that OS levels were linked to ecological conditions of the habitat and the species-specific antioxidant defense potential to overcome multiple stressors. These findings confirmed the importance of environmental conditions, including MP pollution and the evolutionarily developed capacity of marine organisms to tolerate and adapt to environmental stress. This study emphasizes the need for novel approaches in monitoring MPs and OS to better assess potential ecological risks. Full article

Although acetaminophen (APAP) overdose represents the predominant cause of drug-induced acute liver failure (ALF) worldwide and has been extensively studied, the modes of cell death remain debatable and the treatment approach for APAP-induced acute liver failure is still limited. This study investigated the mechanisms of APAP hepatotoxicity in primary mouse hepatocytes (PMHs) by using integrated methods (MTT assay, HPLC analysis for glutathione (GSH), Calcein-AM for labile iron pool detection, confocal microscopy for lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial superoxide measurements, electron microscopy observation, and Western blot analysis for ferritin), focusing on the role of iron dysregulation under oxidative stress. Our results showed that 20 mM APAP treatment induced characteristic features of ferroptosis, including GSH depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Further results showed significant ferritin degradation and subsequent iron releasing. Iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could alleviate APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, while autophagy inhibitors did not provide a protective effect. In vitro experiments confirmed that hydrogen peroxide directly damaged ferritin structure, leading to iron releasing, which may aggravate iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. These findings provide evidence that APAP hepatotoxicity involves a self-amplifying cycle of oxidative stress and iron-mediated oxidative damaging, with ferritin destruction playing a key role as a free iron source. This study offers new insights into APAP-induced liver injury beyond conventional cell death classifications, and highlights iron chelation as a potential therapeutic strategy alongside traditional antioxidative treatment with NAC. Full article

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is one of the polyphagous pests of several crops and forestry, resistant to numerous conventional chemicals. Due to the negative side effects of harmful chemical pesticides, such as environmental pollution, and risks to human health, the introduction of effective and low-risk alternatives is essential. The promising pesticidal effects of essential oils (EOs) isolated from Artemisia annua have been documented in recent studies. In the present study, the acaricidal effects of an A. annua EO, along with its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, were investigated against adults of T. urticae. Artemisia annua EO, 1,8-cineole, and camphor, with 24 h-LC₅₀ values of 0.289, 0.533, and 0.64 µL/L air, respectively, had significant toxicity by fumigation against T. urticae adults. Along with lethality, A. annua EO and monoterpenoids had significant inhibitory effects on the activity of detoxifying enzymes, including α- and β-esterases, glutathione S-transferases, and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase. According to the findings of the present study, A. annua EO and its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, with significant toxicity and inhibitory effects on detoxifying enzymes, can be introduced as available, effective, and eco-friendly acaricides in the management of T. urticae. Full article

Sulfur fumigation (SF), acid dipping (HCl treatment, HAT), and their combination (SF+HAT) are common methods for long-term preservation and color protection of litchi. However, their effects on the metabolic profile of the litchi pericarp have not been investigated. SF resulted in a yellowish-green pericarp by up-regulating lightness (L*), b*, C*, and h° but down-regulating total anthocyanin content (TAC) and a*, while HAT resulted in a reddish coloration by up-regulating a*, b*, and C* but down-regulating L*, h°, and TAC. SF+HAT recovered reddish color with similar L*, C* to SF but a*, b*, h°, and TAC between SF and HAT. Differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) detected in HAT (vs. control) were more than those in SF (vs. control), but similar to those in SF+HAT (vs. control). SF specifically down-regulated the content of cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, sinapinaldehyde, salicylic acid, and tyrosol, but up-regulated 6 flavonoids (luteolin, kaempferol-3-O-(6″-malonyl)galactoside, hesperetin-7-O-glucoside, etc.). Five pathways (biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, flavonoid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, glutathione metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism) were commonly enriched among the three treatments, which significantly up-regulated sulfur-containing metabolites (mainly glutathione, methionine, and homocystine) and down-regulated substrates for browning (mainly procyanidin B2, C1, and coniferyl alcohol). These results provide metabolic evidence for the effect of three treatments on coloration and storability of litchi. Full article

Early weaning of piglets elicits weaning stress, which in turn induces oxidative stress and consequently impairs growth and development. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW), characterized by selective antioxidant properties, mitigates oxidative stress damage and serves as an ideal intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HRW on weaned piglets, specifically investigating its impact on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, antioxidant function, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolites. The results demonstrate that HRW significantly increased the average daily feed intake and significantly reduced the diarrhea rate in weaned piglets. Analysis of serum oxidative stress indicators revealed that HRW significantly elevated the activities of total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase while significantly decreasing malondialdehyde concentration. Assessment of intestinal morphology showed that HRW significantly increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Microbial analysis indicated that HRW significantly increased the abundance of Prevotella in the colon. Furthermore, HRW increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia, in the jejunum and cecum, while concurrently reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria like Escherichia. Hepatic metabolite profiling revealed that HRW significantly altered the metabolite composition in the liver of weaned piglets. Differentially abundant metabolites were enriched in oxidative stress-related KEGG pathways, including ABC transporters; pyruvate metabolism; autophagy; FoxO signaling pathway; glutathione metabolism; ferroptosis; and AMPK signaling pathways. In conclusion, HRW alleviates diarrhea and promotes growth in weaned piglets by enhancing antioxidant capacity. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the application of HRW in swine production and serve as a reference for further exploration into the mechanisms underlying HRW’s effects on animal health and productivity. Full article