Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)are employed as disinfectants due to their extensive antimi-crobial properties,but their biosafety in the livestock industry has not been comprehensively as-sessed.In this study,16 Black-skin Red-crowned chickens aged 32 weeks were randomly divided in-to four groups and sprayed with AgNP solution at the concentration of 0,0.064,0.128 or 0.256 g/L,respectively,every 72 h in their coops for 30 d.The effects of AgNPs as the disinfectant on lung tissue in chicken were investigated through calculation of organ coefficients,observation of lung tissue sections,analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,measurement of inflammatory factors,de-tection of silver residue in lung tissue,and exploration of signaling pathways in pulmonary fibrosis.The results indicated that chickens in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups showed the blurred pulmonary lobule boundaries,the destroyed alveolar structure,and the significant in-crease in pulmonary fibrosis.These pathological changes were accompanied by the decrease in lung organ coefficient,the reduced SP-C content,the increased total protein concentration in lavage flu-id,and the elevated LDH and silver content in lung tissue.The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than the control group,which suggested that AgNPs exposure could induce the pulmonary inflammatory responses.High concentrations of AgNPs can trigger pulmonary tissue fibrosis,damaging the structure and func-tions of lungs.The relative mRNA expression levels of NF-κB in all AgNPs treatment groups,TGF-β in the 0.128 g/L AgNPs treatment group,and Smad3 in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than these in the control group,respectively.Spraying chickens with 0.128 or 0.256 g/L AgNPs for disinfection led to pulmonary deposition of AgNPs,causing direct structural and functional damages to the lungs.It could also induce the chronic pul-monary inflammation through the NF-κB pathway and promote the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway to in-crease collagen synthesis,leading to pulmonary fibrosis.Therefore,the application of high concen-trations of AgNPs in livestock farming requires careful consideration of their potential biological safety issues.

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)are employed as disinfectants due to their extensive antimi-crobial properties,but their biosafety in the livestock industry has not been comprehensively as-sessed.In this study,16 Black-skin Red-crowned chickens aged 32 weeks were randomly divided in-to four groups and sprayed with AgNP solution at the concentration of 0,0.064,0.128 or 0.256 g/L,respectively,every 72 h in their coops for 30 d.The effects of AgNPs as the disinfectant on lung tissue in chicken were investigated through calculation of organ coefficients,observation of lung tissue sections,analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,measurement of inflammatory factors,de-tection of silver residue in lung tissue,and exploration of signaling pathways in pulmonary fibrosis.The results indicated that chickens in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups showed the blurred pulmonary lobule boundaries,the destroyed alveolar structure,and the significant in-crease in pulmonary fibrosis.These pathological changes were accompanied by the decrease in lung organ coefficient,the reduced SP-C content,the increased total protein concentration in lavage flu-id,and the elevated LDH and silver content in lung tissue.The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than the control group,which suggested that AgNPs exposure could induce the pulmonary inflammatory responses.High concentrations of AgNPs can trigger pulmonary tissue fibrosis,damaging the structure and func-tions of lungs.The relative mRNA expression levels of NF-κB in all AgNPs treatment groups,TGF-β in the 0.128 g/L AgNPs treatment group,and Smad3 in the 0.128 and 0.256 g/L AgNPs treatment groups were significantly higher than these in the control group,respectively.Spraying chickens with 0.128 or 0.256 g/L AgNPs for disinfection led to pulmonary deposition of AgNPs,causing direct structural and functional damages to the lungs.It could also induce the chronic pul-monary inflammation through the NF-κB pathway and promote the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway to in-crease collagen synthesis,leading to pulmonary fibrosis.Therefore,the application of high concen-trations of AgNPs in livestock farming requires careful consideration of their potential biological safety issues.

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antioxidants ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

In order to explore the mechanism by which Rehmannia extract enhances ovarian follicle development,reduces ovarian aging,and improves the production performance of chickens,35-week-old black skin and red crest chickens were randomly divided into a blank control group and groups supplemented with 0.1％,0.2％and 0.4％Rehmannia extract for feeding experiments.Changes of histological structure and molecular regulation for improving the reproductive perform-ance of black skin and red crest chicken were explored here by detecting the reproductive hormones and the corresponding receptors in ovary and quantifying the cell proliferation and apoptotic lesion.Based on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways,mechanisms of Rehmannia ex-tract on promoting ovarian follicle development and alleviating ovarian aging were further studied to enrich the reproductive regulation theory of native breed chickens and improve their reproduc-tive performance.The results indicated that 0.4％Rehmannia extract could improve the levels of LH,E2 and P4 in serum,elevate the relative expression levels of FSHR,ERβ and PCNA mRNA in ovarian tissues,increase the content of PCNA protein,and decrease the number of apoptosis cells and the level of apoptosis protein Cleaved-Caspase-3.By enhancing the secretion of norepinephrine and activating the a2A-AR and the downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ovary,the Rehmannia extract could effectively relieve the decline of ovarian function and maintain stable and efficient ovarian functions,which was independent of AMPK signaling pathway.Therefore,0.4％Rehmannia extract is conducive to enhancing the reproductive function via regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

In order to explore the mechanism by which Rehmannia extract enhances ovarian follicle development,reduces ovarian aging,and improves the production performance of chickens,35-week-old black skin and red crest chickens were randomly divided into a blank control group and groups supplemented with 0.1％,0.2％and 0.4％Rehmannia extract for feeding experiments.Changes of histological structure and molecular regulation for improving the reproductive perform-ance of black skin and red crest chicken were explored here by detecting the reproductive hormones and the corresponding receptors in ovary and quantifying the cell proliferation and apoptotic lesion.Based on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways,mechanisms of Rehmannia ex-tract on promoting ovarian follicle development and alleviating ovarian aging were further studied to enrich the reproductive regulation theory of native breed chickens and improve their reproduc-tive performance.The results indicated that 0.4％Rehmannia extract could improve the levels of LH,E2 and P4 in serum,elevate the relative expression levels of FSHR,ERβ and PCNA mRNA in ovarian tissues,increase the content of PCNA protein,and decrease the number of apoptosis cells and the level of apoptosis protein Cleaved-Caspase-3.By enhancing the secretion of norepinephrine and activating the a2A-AR and the downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ovary,the Rehmannia extract could effectively relieve the decline of ovarian function and maintain stable and efficient ovarian functions,which was independent of AMPK signaling pathway.Therefore,0.4％Rehmannia extract is conducive to enhancing the reproductive function via regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.