Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plasticity across life-history stages of a free-living subtropical finch, Amandava amandava amandava.

The alterations of phenotypic traits (morphology, endocrine physiology, and behavior) in response to predictable environmental cues across life-history stages in seasonally breeding birds enable successful culmination of reproduction. The present study elucidated the plasticity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in a subtropical free-living finch, Amandava amandava amandava, and suggests the crucial role of the baseline corticosterone (CORT) to coordinate energetic readiness across life-history stages. Birds were captured monthly from an area (25.

Probiotics modulation of the endotoxemic effect on the gut and liver of the lipopolysaccharide challenged mice.

The multistrain probiotics' efficacy in ameliorating the endotoxemic effect in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged mice was evaluated with the agonist of anti-inflammatory peptide, neurotensin (NTS), especially targeting the inflammation of the gut and liver. Swiss Albino Mice (Female, 8 weeks old) were maintained in eight groups: Group I as Control, Group II-Group V were exposed to intraperitoneal (i.p.

Pesticides exposure and compromised fitness in wild birds: Focusing on the reproductive endocrine disruption.

Exposure of pesticides to wildlife species, especially on the aspect of endocrine disruption is of great concern. Wildlife species are more at risk to harmful exposures to the pesticides in their natural habitat through diet and several other means. Species at a higher tropic level in the food chain are more susceptible to the deleterious effects due to sequential biomagnifications of the pesticides/metabolites.

Seasonality of Reproduction in a Subtropical Free-Living Finch Amandava amandava: Plasticity of Adenohypophyseal Gonadotropes, Lactotropes, and Thyrotropes.

Introduction: This study sought to decipher the mechanism of transitions between life-history stages in a seasonally reproducing subtropical finch, Amandava amandava delineating the plasticity of the gonadotropes (LH cells), lactotropes (PRL cells), and thyrotropes (TSH cells) in the pituitary gland including the pars tuberalis, with regard to the in situ expression, morphological characteristics, and alteration in the plasma levels of hormones.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry of LH, PRL, TSH cells, morphometry and densitometry of expressed hormones (Image J software analysis), and ELISA for plasma hormonal levels were performed.

Results: LH, PRL, and TSH cells showed remarkable plasticity during the annual seasonal reproductive cycle.

Neurotensin agonist PD149163 modulates lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the female reproductive system of mice.

Inflammation-mediated reproductive health problems in females have become an emerging concern. The present investigation was aimed to elucidate the efficacy of the PD149163, agonist of the type I neurotensin receptor, in preventing/ameliorating the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation of the female reproductive system of the mice. Female Swiss Albino Mice (8 weeks old) were maintained in three groups (6/group): Group I as Control, Group II and Group III were exposed to intraperitoneal (i.

Neurotensin receptor-1 antagonist SR48692 modulation of high-fat diet induced reproductive impairment in male mice.

Neurotensin (NTS), a tridecapeptide of the gastrointestinal tract, has been implicated in the facilitation of lipid absorption on ingestion of a high-fat diet (HFD) especially via NTS receptors, NTSR1, NTSR2, and NTSR3, to cause lipid metabolic dysregulation and imbalance of the oxidant-antioxidant system. Oxidative stress induced a negative impact on reproductive function, affecting the reproductive organ and related reproductive hormones. The present study elucidated the efficacy of NTSR1 antagonist SR48692 in the modulation of HFD-induced reproductive impairment in male mice.

Role of the testicular capsule in seasonal modulation of the testis.

While the seasonal testicular cycle has been well studied regarding internal components, no attention has been given to the testicular capsule (tunica albuginea and tunica serosa). This study elucidated the structure-function modulations of intra-testicular functions by its capsule in the finch red munia (Amandava amandava) during the annual testicular cycle. The birds were studied during breeding (preparatory and breeding) and nonbreeding (regressive and quiescent) reproductive phases using hematoxylin-eosin and acridine orange-ethidium bromide capsule staining, hormonal ELISA (LH and testosterone) and immunohistochemical expression of neuropeptides (GnRH, GnIH) and androgen receptor (AR).

Neurotensin modulation of lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation of gut-liver axis: Evaluation using neurotensin receptor agonist and antagonist.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a toxic component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, is a potent immune stressor. LPS-induced inflammation of the gut-liver axis is well demonstrated. Neurotensin (NTS), a tri-decapeptide present in the gastrointestinal tract, has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and growth-promoting properties.

Thyroid disrupting pesticides mancozeb and fipronil in mixture caused oxidative damage and genotoxicity in lymphoid organs of mice.

The interference in endocrine signaling in particular of hypothyroid-pituitary-thyroid axis during embryonic/neonatal development increases the risk of long-lasting immune dysfunctioning. Anticipating that, environmentally realistic exposure of established thyroid disrupting pesticides of dithiocarbamate group mancozeb and phenylpyrazole fipronil was given to mice as individual and as mixtures (MIX-I/MIX-II) during the critical initiation phase of the immune response from postnatal day (PND) 31 till PND 60 (maturation phase). The direct exposure effect was assessed at PND 61 and the persistent effect was assessed at PND 91.

Atypical antipsychotic drug modulates early life infection induced impairment of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: An age related study in mice.

Evidences from human and animal studies indicate that exposure to infection during early life act as a stressor to impair the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and may be one of the contributing factors of mental illness of later life. Several atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs) proved to be effective in alleviating psychiatric illness through normalization of HPA axis. However, AAPD are least tried to evaluate their efficacy in modulation of HPA axis impaired under infection.

Thyroxine modulation of immune toxicity induced by mixture pesticides mancozeb and fipronil in mice.

Aim: The cross regulation between neuroendocrine system, particularly Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) axis and immune system during embryonic/early neonatal developmental stages shapes the functional attribute of immune response throughout the life. Thus, disruption of immune system was anticipated on exposure to thyroid disrupting pesticides (TDPs) mancozeb (MCZ) and fipronil (FPN) during critical windows of early postnatal days (PND) development.

Main Methods: Mice were exposed to MCZ and FPN as individual (0.

Thyroid disrupting pesticides impair the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis of a wildlife bird, Amandava amandava.

The effect of two thyroid disrupting pesticides (TDPs) mancozeb (MCZ) and imidacloprid (IMI) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal/testicular (HPG) axis of a seasonally breeding bird, Amandava amandava has been evaluated. Male birds (n=8/group) were exposed to each of the pesticide (0.25% LD of respective pesticide) as well as to their two equimixture doses (0.

Disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis on co-exposures to dithiocarbamate and neonicotinoid pesticides: Study in a wildlife bird, Amandava amandava.

Non-target organisms, including human and wildlife, are susceptible to deleterious effects of pesticide mixtures in their environment. Present study demonstrated the disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in a seasonally breeding wildlife bird Amandava amandava on co-exposure to dithiocarbamate mancozeb/MCZ and neonicotinoid imidacloprid/IMI, at concentrations even lower than respective environmentally realistic exposure level of each of the pesticide. Adult male birds (n=8/group) were exposed individually to 0.

Neonatal Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Impairs Learning Behaviour by Disrupting Hippocampal Organization in Male Swiss Albino Mice.

Hippocampus is highly susceptible to endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure particularly during the critical phase of brain development. In this study, mice offspring were exposed to endocrine disruptors mancozeb (MCZ) and imidacloprid (IMI) individually (40 mg MCZ and 0.65 mg IMI/kg/day) as well as to their equimixture (40 mg MCZ + 0.

Endocrine disrupting pesticides impair the neuroendocrine regulation of reproductive behaviors and secondary sexual characters of red munia (Amandava amandava).

The exposure effects of two endocrine disrupting pesticides (EDPs), mancozeb/MCZ and imidacloprid/IMI of the group dithiocarbamate and neonicotinoid respectively, on reproductive behaviors and secondary sexual characters have been studied in a seasonally breeding wildlife bird, red munia (Amandava amandava). Adult male birds were exposed to both the pesticides individually (0.25% LD of each) as well as co-exposed (MIX-I: 0.

Vitamin E pretreatment prevents the immunotoxicity of dithiocarbamate pesticide mancozeb in vitro: A comparative age-related assessment in mice and chick.

Pesticides used for crop protection cause life-threatening diseases affecting the immune system of non-target organisms including birds and mammals. Functionality of immune system is age-dependent; early- as well as old-life stages are more susceptible to toxic exposures because of less competent immune system. Vitamins are so far known to reduce toxic effect of several pesticides and/or xenobiotics.

The neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid and the dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb disrupt the pituitary-thyroid axis of a wildlife bird.

Thyroid is an important homeostatic regulator of metabolic activities as well as endocrine mechanisms including those of reproduction. Present investigation elucidated the thyroid disrupting potential of a neonicotinoid imidacloprid and a dithiocarbamate mancozeb in a seasonally breeding wildlife bird, Red Munia (Amandava amandava) who is vulnerable to these two pesticides through diet (seed grains and small insects). Adult male birds were exposed to 0.

Atypical antipsychotic paliperidone prevents behavioral deficits in mice prenatally challenged with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide.

Studies on animal models provide enough evidences that old age appearance of psychosis on exposures to various insults during critical period of brain development could be prevented by antipsychotic drug treatment. Presently, gestational intervention of the atypical antipsychotic paliperidone (PAL) is done along with the exposure of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide/LPS hypothesizing that the drug would counteract and/or prevent the immune activation-induced behavioral deficits in mice. Effect of the PAL (0.

Pesticides in mixture disrupt metabolic regulation: in silico and in vivo analysis of cumulative toxicity of mancozeb and imidacloprid on body weight of mice.

Pesticides acting as endocrine disrupting chemicals disrupt the homeostasis of body metabolism. The present study elucidated that the low dose coexposure of thyroid disrupting dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb (MCZ) and neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) during lactation increased the risk of body weight gain in mice later in life. Body weight gain has been linked to pesticide-induced hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia and alteration of lipid profiles.

Effect of acute hexavalent chromium exposure on pituitary-thyroid axis of a freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

Acute exposure to hexavalent chromium (10 mg L(-1) , 20 mg L(-1) , and 40 mg L(-1) potassium dichromate for 96 h) dose-dependently affected the pituitary-thyroid axis of teleost, Channa punctatus. Significant hypertrophy of the thyroid follicle was observed in 20 mg L(-1) and 40 mg L(-1) groups; the follicular epithelium was however hypertrophied only in 40 mg L(-1) group. The colloid depletion in the lumen of thyroid follicle was evident in 20 mg L(-1) and 40 mg L(-1) groups.

Acute spill-mimicking exposure effect of hexavalent chromium on the pituitary-ovarian axis of a teleost, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

Acute exposure to hexavalent chromium (as 10, 20, and 40 mg/L potassium dichromate for 96 h) adversely affected the pituitary-ovarian axis of a teleost Channa punctatus. The toxic impact of metal exposure on fish ovary was revealed in the form of increased percentage of atretic follicles, significantly in 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L exposure groups. The follicular atresia mostly occurred in vitellogenic (stage II and stage III) oocytes.

Effect of sublethal hexavalent chromium exposure on the pituitary-ovarian axis of a teleost, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

Exposure to sublethal hexavalent chromium (as 2 and 4 mg L⁻¹ potassium dichromate for 1 and 2 months) during late preparatory to mid prespawning phase of annual reproductive cycle severely affected the pituitary-ovarian axis of a teleost Channa punctatus. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), ovarian histopathology, immunocytochemistry of the pituitary gonadotrophs (LHβ-immunoreactive cells), and serum 17β-estradiol level revealed distinct dose and duration-dependent effects. Gonadosomatic index was declined.

Effects of lactational exposure of olanzapine and risperidone on hematology and lymphoid organs histopathology: a comparative study in mice neonates.

Body weight gain, sexual/reproductive dysfunction and hematological abnormalities are serious consequences of atypical antipsychotics treatment. No attempts however have been made preclinically to elucidate the adverse hematological impacts. Presently, effects of lactational exposure of olanzapine (4, 8 and 10 mg/kg) and risperidone (1 and 2 mg/kg) on hematology as well as lymphoid organ histopathology of mice neonates were investigated.

Lactational exposure to atypical antipsychotic drugs disrupts the pituitary-testicular axis in mice neonates during post-natal development.

Olanzapine (OLNZ) and risperidone (RISP), two widely prescribed drugs for post-partum psychosis, transfer through milk to the neonates. Hence, neonates are susceptible to their adverse side effects. In the present study, the pituitary-testicular axis of lactationally exposed mice neonates (PND 28) was examined to evaluate the reproductive adverse effects.