Bashar Ibrahım, Nihayet Bayraktar, Mehmet Bayraktar
{"title":"Investigation of Serum Nitric Oxide, Zinc, Copper, and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Acute Hepatitis B Patients.","authors":"Bashar Ibrahım, Nihayet Bayraktar, Mehmet Bayraktar","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04781-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04781-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute hepatitis B (AHB) infection impacts millions globally, causing severe liver disease. This study aimed to assess serum nitric oxide (NO), C-reactive protein (CRP), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels and their interrelationships in AHB pathogenesis. We investigated these biomarkers in 58 patients with AHB and 30 healthy controls. Results showed that patients with AHB had significantly higher serum levels of NO metabolites, CRP, and Cu, while Zn concentrations were significantly lower compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all). A distinct biomarker profile emerged from correlation analysis: strong positive correlations were found among the pro-inflammatory markers, with CRP levels showing a significant positive association with both Cu (rho = 0.677) and total NO metabolites (rho = 0.631). Conversely, serum Zn levels exhibited a consistent and significant negative correlation with all other measured markers, most notably with CRP (rho = - 0.649) and Cu (rho = - 0.520). These findings highlight a coordinated inflammatory response in AHB, characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory mediators and a concurrent depletion of the essential trace element zinc. This interconnected biomarker panel underscores a significant pathophysiological network and holds potential as a composite tool for the diagnosis and management of AHB.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5494-5503"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144854392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Case-Control Study of Association Between Serum Levels of 19 Trace Elements with Prostate Cancer in Southwest China.","authors":"Maoling Zhan, Yujing Chuai, Xiaotao Zhou, Jia Li, Xianghong Zhou, Zilong Zhang, Yuming Jin, Weichao Huang, Xinyi Huang, Siqing He, Hongyan Zeng, Shi Qiu, Xiaoli Zou","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04563-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04563-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent urological malignancy, exhibiting the highest incidence and the second-highest mortality among all male cancers. The incidence of PCa in men in China is consistently rising. Studies have shown that elemental exposure levels are associated with the occurrence of PCa. However, epidemiological data are limited, and more researches on different regions and races are needed. To clarify the relationship between the occurrence of PCa and serum levels of 19 trace elements. Serum samples from 79 PCa patients and 74 male healthy controls were obtained, and the levels of 19 trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Baseline matching of key demographic characteristics was performed between the two groups. The relationship between serum trace elements levels and PCa, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PCa staging were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression, and Spearman's correlation analysis. Statistical analysis of the test results revealed that the low levels of Cu, Zn, and Se in serum may be associated with the development of PCa. Moreover, the changes in the interrelationship of trace elements may play a role in the development of PCa.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5081-5095"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143647133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhe-Ying Jiang, Wei-Jia Meng, Ying Wang, Hua-Qin Su, Bi-Xiu Mao, Cai-Li Wang, Feng-Lian Peng, Cui-Ping Li, Lian-Ping He
{"title":"Association Between Whole Blood Iron and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Elderly: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Zhe-Ying Jiang, Wei-Jia Meng, Ying Wang, Hua-Qin Su, Bi-Xiu Mao, Cai-Li Wang, Feng-Lian Peng, Cui-Ping Li, Lian-Ping He","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04846-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-025-04846-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Our objective is to investigate the correlation between levels of whole blood iron and the prevalence of NAFLD among elderly populations in the community. This investigation is designed as a case-control study, concentrating on community members aged 60 years and older who underwent physical assessments and had their whole blood iron levels tested at local health service centers from April to September 2021. In total, 786 participants qualified for inclusion in the study. Individuals diagnosed with fatty liver were organized into the NAFLD group (393 cases), while the control group (393 cases) consisted of healthy individuals who participated in physical evaluations during the same timeframe. Whole blood iron levels and other pertinent biochemical markers were assessed for both groups, alongside the collection of general demographic data. The results indicated that the whole blood iron concentration in the fatty liver cohort [(483.42 ± 45.59) mg/L] was significantly elevated compared to the control group [(470.16 ± 47.76) mg/L]. Moreover, levels of whole blood iron, whole blood zinc, whole blood magnesium, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all significantly greater in the fatty liver group than in the control group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, after adjustments for confounding variables such as age and sex, the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the occurrence of fatty liver in the lowest whole blood iron quartile (Q1) relative to the highest quartile (Q4) was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.76). This research demonstrates a strong link between whole blood iron levels and the development of fatty liver within this community. Tracking whole blood iron concentrations could be crucial for the early detection and intervention of fatty liver. As this is a case-control study, the causal relationship between whole blood iron and NAFLD cannot be established.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Victor Enrique Sarmiento-Ortega, David Castillo-Pérez, Diana Moroni-González, Alfonso Diaz, Rubén Vázquez-Roque, Eduardo Brambila, Samuel Treviño
{"title":"Minimal Risk Doses of Cadmium Exposure Induce Histological and Functional Alterations in the Brown Adipose Tissue of Wistar Rats.","authors":"Victor Enrique Sarmiento-Ortega, David Castillo-Pérez, Diana Moroni-González, Alfonso Diaz, Rubén Vázquez-Roque, Eduardo Brambila, Samuel Treviño","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04844-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-025-04844-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cadmium exposure, even at doses currently regarded as minimal risk, has been associated with significant metabolic alterations. While its effects on organs such as the liver, kidney, and pancreas have been widely studied, its impact on brown adipose tissue (BAT) remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of oral Cd exposure (15 and 32 ppm) over subacute, subchronic, and chronic periods on BAT functionality and structure in Wistar rats (n = 90). A metabolic, toxicological, and hormonal profile, as well as histology, expression of leptin, PPARγ, PPARα, and UCP-1, and mitochondrial complexes activity, were assessed and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test for quantitative and semiquantitative data. The results revealed progressive metabolic dysfunction, liver and renal impairment, increased free T3, and BAT dysfunction characterized by hypertrophy, downregulation of UCP-1 and PPARα, and disorganization of mitochondrial complexes and supercomplexes. These findings suggest a defect in BAT function and loss of its thermogenic capacity. In conclusion, results demonstrate that chronic Cd exposure induces mitochondrial toxic effects by impairing the function of brown adipose tissue and promoting the development of metabolic diseases, even under exposure levels considered to be of minimal risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Protective Effect of Boric Acid Against High Fructose-Induced Liver and Kidney Damage in Rats.","authors":"Duygu Yüksel, Mehmet Başeğmez, Fahriye Kan","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04542-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04542-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to determine the protective role of boric acid (BA) in high fructose (HF)-induced liver and kidney toxicity in a young rat model. High-fructose consumption causes serious damage to liver and kidney tissue in healthy individuals and contributes to the emergence of various metabolic diseases. Thirty-two healthy female Wistar albino rats (250-300 g weight and 3-4 months) were randomly distributed into four equal groups (n = 8): control, high fructose % 20 (HF), boric acid 20 mg/kg (BA), and HF + BA. High fructose was freshly prepared and administered to the rats as 20 g of D-fructose dissolved in 100 mL of tap water daily for a duration of 30 days. Boric acid (20 mg/kg) was administered through gastric gavage throughout the 30-day study period. At the end of study, blood, liver, and kidney were collected from rats. The results indicated that high fructose induced increased glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea levels in rat serum. Boric acid administration significantly decreased glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea levels in HF + BA groups. The results indicated that high fructose-induced oxidative stress by increasing the level of MDA and by decreasing GSH levels, and CAT activity in the liver and kidney of rats. However, oral BA administration significantly decreased MDA levels and increased GSH levels, and CAT activity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, BA significantly reduced high fructose-induced histopathological and Immunohistochemistry alteration in the liver and kidney tissues. In conclusion, BA may prevent the oxidative imbalance and histopathological and immunohistochemical damage caused by high fructose in liver and kidney tissues in rats.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5209-5218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507934/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143254239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of Cumulative Zinc Doses on Papillary Muscle Contractions and the Zinc Finger Protein ZEB1.","authors":"Nı̇lufer Akgun-Unal, Aylı̇n Ustun, Sevban Bayirli, Omer Unal, Rası̇m Mogulkoc, Abdulkerim Kasım Baltacı","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04550-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04550-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of cumulative doses of Zn<sup>2+</sup> (by exposing samples to 1 µM, 10 µM, and 100 µM ZnCl<sub>2</sub>) on myocardial papillary muscle contractions isolated from rat hearts in vitro and the roles of the zinc finger protein ZEB1 in this effect. In these preparations, 100 µM ZnCl<sub>2</sub> application in different protocols caused a decrease in contraction force and an increase in contraction time in both frequency-dependent parameters and pre-expected stimuli when compared to the control group. Our study data show that Ca<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis is closely related to increasing Zn<sup>2+</sup> doses (especially at 100 µM ZnCl<sub>2</sub> dose). Secondly, the levels of ZEB1, a zinc finger protein, were also significantly lower in the 100 µM ZnCl<sub>2</sub> group compared to the other groups, which seems to be related to the increase in Ca<sup>2+</sup> that triggers ROS production at high doses of Zn<sup>2+</sup>. The data of our study, which we conducted to understand the Zn<sup>2+</sup> concentrations in the heart and to reveal new mechanisms that play a role in the regulation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> dynamics in heart tissue and is the first research in the literature on this subject, show that in vitro zinc application may have a dose-dependent effect on myocardial papillary muscle contractions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5235-5244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143439862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo Yang, Feiqing Wang, Xu Yang, Jinyang Cheng, Juan Chen, Bingbing Li, Ying Zhou, Xiaoxu Chen, Bo Wei, Xiaoshuang Yuan, Ting Tian, Dongxin Tang, Zhixu He, Yang Liu, Yanju Li
{"title":"The Systematic Analysis of the Impact of China Water Improvement and Fluoride Reduction Project on Children.","authors":"Bo Yang, Feiqing Wang, Xu Yang, Jinyang Cheng, Juan Chen, Bingbing Li, Ying Zhou, Xiaoxu Chen, Bo Wei, Xiaoshuang Yuan, Ting Tian, Dongxin Tang, Zhixu He, Yang Liu, Yanju Li","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04552-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04552-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endemic fluorosis is a serious public health problem in China. In order to improve the quality of drinking water, China has implemented water rehabilitation and fluoride reduction projects, but their effect on children's health outcomes is unclear. This study reviewed relevant literature published in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang from the date of establishment to October 2024. Data related to demographic characteristics, duration of the water improvement project, geographical location, drinking water fluoride levels, and prevalence of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride levels in children aged 8 to 12 years were extracted and analyzed using fixed-effects and random-effects models. With the improvement of water quality, the fluoride content decreased from 2.34 to 0.67 mg/L (drinking water standard, 1.5 mg/L). This was accompanied by a decrease in the prevalence of dental fluorosis from 56.7 to 28.8%. In regions where the drinking water fluoride content was within the limit, the prevalence of dental fluorosis decreased from 29.7 to 15.6%. The duration of implementation and geographical features of the regions under study had a significant impact on the prevalence of dental fluorosis. Finally, the urinary fluoride level decreased from 2.58 to 1.15 mg/L. The water improvement and fluoride reduction initiative effectively reduced the drinking water fluoride content and the urinary fluoride levels and the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children living in fluorosis-endemic areas in China. The improvement was associated with the geographical features of regions and the implementation time of the project.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5018-5033"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143472110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unraveling the Mechanisms of AhR-Notch Interplay in Mediating Arsenic Trioxide Cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Lines.","authors":"Amir Shadboorestan, Darya Baluchi, Omid Safa, Amin Reza Nikpoor, Mahnoosh Mokhtarinejad, Mahmoud Omidi","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04543-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04543-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arsenic trioxide (ATO) induces oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms and its effects on other signaling pathways, particularly in breast cancer, remain inadequately understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is expressed in breast cancer cells and linked to disease progression, while Notch signaling enhances migratory properties in these cells. The simultaneous use of the AhR agonist (FICZ), AhR antagonist (CH223191), and Notch antagonist (DAPT) was intended to investigate how the modulation of these pathways affects the response of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell) to ATO. We measured cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and cell migration. Results show that ATO significantly reduces cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, decreasing MMP and increasing ROS levels. Notably, co-exposure to ATO and CH223191 for 24 h enhanced cell viability, increased MMP, and diminished ROS compared to ATO alone. Also, the ATO + CH223191 + DAPT combination exhibited higher MMP and lower ROS levels than the ATO + FICZ + DAPT combination, indicating AhR inhibition's critical role in MMP regulation. Although ATO reduced migration compared to controls, adding DAPT or FICZ significantly increased migration percentages. Interestingly, co-exposure to CH223191 did not exhibit this effect and modulated the migratory effects of DAPT + ATO and FICZ + ATO combinations. In conclusion, these findings suggest that AhR stimulation via FICZ may enhance ATO's therapeutic effects, while simultaneous exposure to ATO, FICZ, and DAPT may lead to additive effects, reducing MMP and increasing ROS levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5170-5182"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marina Pavic, Tihana Magdic Turkovic, Ana Bronic, Viktorija Blagec, Adriana Unic, Marija Bozovic, Anita Radman, Alen Vrtaric, Nora Nikolac Gabaj
{"title":"Is the Concentration of Trace Elements Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, and Iron a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Trauma Patients?","authors":"Marina Pavic, Tihana Magdic Turkovic, Ana Bronic, Viktorija Blagec, Adriana Unic, Marija Bozovic, Anita Radman, Alen Vrtaric, Nora Nikolac Gabaj","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04559-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04559-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trace elements (TE) function as essential micronutrients involved in the biochemical and physiological processes of the human body. We evaluated the baseline serum concentrations of TE as a predictor of clinical outcomes in critically ill trauma patients and monitored the concentrations of TE during the patients intensive care unit (ICU) stay. A total of 89 patients were enrolled. Within the first 24 h of patients' admission, concentrations of TE, zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) were measured and monitored on the 5th and 10th day of patients ICU stay. The concentrations of Zn, Se, Cu and Mn were determined from serum using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, whereas the concentration of Fe using the photometric method. ANOVA and logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis with the level of significance set at 0.05. At the time of ICU admission, deficiency of Cu was observed in 11 out of 89 (0.13), Zn in 82 (0.92), Se in 5 (0.06) and Fe in 52 (0.58) patients, while excess of Mn was detected in 27 (0.30) and Cu in 3 (0.03) patients. A significant increase of Zn and Cu concentrations was observed from admission to 10th day (P < 0.001 for both), although Zn concentrations did not reach the lower limit of the reference interval. Logistic regression analysis found that only a low concentration of Zn at admission was associated with mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.64-0.96; P = 0.018). Furthermore, the concentrations of TE at admission in critically ill trauma patients did not have an impact on the overall length of the ICU and hospital stay, nor on mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5057-5067"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metformin Mitigates the Impact of Arsenic Exposure on the Maternal and Offspring Reproductive System of Female Mice.","authors":"Razieh Bagheri, Seyyed Sajad Daneshi, Samaneh Bina, Marziyeh Haghshenas, Mohammad Javad Khoshnoud, Seyedeh Leili Asadi-Yousefabad, Forouzan Khodaei, Marzieh Rashedinia","doi":"10.1007/s12011-025-04577-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-025-04577-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to arsenic causes health problems and is associated with adverse effects on fertility and development. Humans are facing increasing exposure to arsenic from multiple sources, such as drinking water, food products, and industrial processes. The mechanisms behind arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity and its impact on fertility and the development of future generations are investigated by the protective role of metformin (200 mg/kg) against arsenic-induced (20 ppm As<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) ovarian damage in both maternal and offspring generations. Results showed arsenic exposure caused significant weight loss, increased mortality, reduced serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, and heightened oxidative stress, indicated by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced ovarian antioxidant activity. Gene expression changes related to apoptosis and inflammation, such as BAX, Bcl-2, Bcl-2, caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 (IL-1), were also noted, along with a decrease in HO-1 expression. Arsenic exposure led to a reduction in ovarian follicles and an increase in atretic follicles and uterine thickness. However, metformin significantly reduced ROS and MDA levels, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and protected ovarian tissue by upregulating heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and Bcl-2, modulating apoptotic and inflammatory genes, and preserving AMH levels. The possible protective role of metformin against arsenic-induced toxicity and its detrimental effects aims to improve therapeutic approaches to alleviate the harmful consequences of environmental pollutants, especially arsenic.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"5325-5342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}