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Antioxidant capacity of omega-3-fatty acids and vitamin E against imidacloprid-induced hepatotoxicity in Japanese quails

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Abstract

Imidacloprid (IM) is a neonicotinoid insecticide, used in a wide range of agricultural activities worldwide. However, it results in ecosystem disturbances and signs of toxicity in human and animals. The current study was designed to elucidate the protective effects of omega-3-fatty acids (OFAs) and vitamin E (Vit E) against IM hepatotoxicity in Japanese quails. Seventy male quails (30 days old) were divided into seven groups (n = 10); G1 −ve control; G2 received IM (+ve control); G3 received OFA; G4 received Vit E; and G5, G6, and G7 received OFA and/or Vit E with IM for 30 days, respectively. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected. Imidacloprid significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), triglycerides (TGC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Moreover, IM caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the levels of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and reduced-glutathione (GSH) concentration in comparison to the –ve control group. Histopathological changes in hepatocytes, including thick cell trabeculae with marked hydropic vacuolar degeneration of cytoplasm, were found in IM-treated group. Treatment with OFA and/or Vit E resulted in significant improvements in general body condition, serum HDL-C level, and liver tissue SOD enzyme activity and GSH concentration, as well as significant decreases in the levels of serum AST, ALT, TGC, LDL-C, and hepatic tissue MDA. In conclusion, OFA and Vit E have a protective effect against IM toxicity, especially in their combination.

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Abbreviations

ALP:

alkaline phosphatase

ALT:

alanine transferase

AST:

aspartate transferase

GSH:

reduced-glutathione

HDL:

high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

IM:

imidacloprid

LDL-C:

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

MDA:

malondialdehyde

OFA:

omega-3 fatty acids

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TGC:

triglycerides

Vit E:

vitamin E

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Acknowledgments

All authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Dr./ Eman Moghazy; Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University for her help and facilities provided for raising quails used in this study.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

    Hazem Emam, Eman Ahmed & Mohamed Abdel-Daim

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  1. Hazem Emam
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  2. Eman Ahmed
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Correspondence to Mohamed Abdel-Daim.

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Emam, H., Ahmed, E. & Abdel-Daim, M. Antioxidant capacity of omega-3-fatty acids and vitamin E against imidacloprid-induced hepatotoxicity in Japanese quails. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 11694–11702 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1481-9

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