Contents
Quercetin (QUE) is a natural flavonol‐type flavonoid with antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐aggregatory properties. It is also a powerful reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and ...chelating agent. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of QUE to reverse ROS‐mediated alterations to the motility, viability and intracellular antioxidant profile of bovine spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were washed out of fresh bovine semen, suspended in 2.9% sodium citrate and subjected to QUE treatment (7.5, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/l) in the presence or absence of a pro‐oxidant, that is ferrous ascorbate (FeAA; 150 μmol/l FeSO4 and 750 μmol/l ascorbic acid) during a 6‐h in vitro culture. Spermatozoa motion characteristics were assessed using the SpermVision computer‐aided sperm analysis (CASA) system. Cell viability was examined with the metabolic activity (MTT) assay, ROS generation was quantified via luminometry, and the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test was applied to quantify the intracellular superoxide formation. Cell lysates were prepared at the end of the in vitro culture to investigate the intracellular activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). FeAA treatment led to a reduced sperm motility (p < 0.001), viability (p < 0.001) and decreased the antioxidant parameters of the sperm samples (p < 0.001) but increased the ROS generation (p < 0.001), superoxide production (p < 0.001) and lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001). QUE administration resulted in a preservation of the spermatozoa vitality and antioxidant characteristics (p < 0.01 with respect to the enzymatic antioxidants, p < 0.001 in relation to GSH) with a concentration range of 50–100 μmol/l QUE revealing to be the most effective. Our results suggest that QUE exhibits significant ROS‐scavenging and metal‐chelating properties which may prevent spermatozoa alterations caused by ROS, and preserve the functionality of male reproductive cells.
The increasing worldwide production of bisphenols has been associated to several human diseases, such as chronic respiratory and kidney diseases, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, behavioral ...troubles and reproductive disorders in both sexes. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the potential impact bisphenols A, B, S and F on the cell viability and testosterone release in TM3 Leydig cell line. Mice Leydig cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of bisphenols (0.04-50 µg.ml-1) during 24 h exposure. Quantification of the cell viability was assessed using the metabolic activity assay, while the level of testosterone in cell culture media was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Within the panel of substances under investigations, the higher experimental concentrations (10; 25 and 50 µg.ml-1) significantly (P<0.001) decreased Leydig cells viability, while the same doses of BPA and BPB also reduced testosterone production significantly (P<0.001). Taken together, the results of our study reported herein is a consistent whit the conclusion that higher experimental doses of bisphenols have a cytotoxic effect and could have a dose-dependent impact on testosterone production.
Currently, in animal nutrition, the replacement of synthetic substances with natural ones was expected to improve animal health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary ...brown seaweed and plant polyphenol mixture in adult male rabbits on the haematological profile and antioxidant markers. Twenty-four adult male rabbits were divided into three experimental groups receiving a control diet (C) or diets supplemented with 0.3% (T1) and 0.6% (T2) of a feed additive containing brown seaweed (Laminaria spp.) and plant extracts of seaweed origin. The trial lasted for 90 days. A lower potassium concentration was observed at 30 days in the T2 group, compared with the T1 and C groups. An increase in the antioxidant status was observed (P < 0.05) from day 60 of the trial in the rabbits fed diets with an algae-polyphenolic supplement (T1 and T2 groups). Concluding, the diet supplementation of brown seaweed and polyphenol stimulates the antioxidant status of the blood, however, it does not affect the haematological profile.
Results of radioactivity measurements in Bratislava aerosols following the Fukushima accident showed that at least three radioactive plumes arrived to Bratislava as indicated by 131I/137Cs activity ...ratios. When compared with the Chernobyl results available for the Bratislava station, the Fukushima radionuclide levels were almost five orders of magnitude lower, with the maximum values for 131I and 137Cs of 0.5 and 0.07 mBq/m3, respectively. The 131I and 137Cs vs. 7Be aerosol activity records showed that the increases in 131I and 137Cs activity concentrations were accompanied by 7Be increases, indicating that both the horizontal and vertical transports of radionuclides were responsible for observed radionuclide concentrations. The 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio was close to 1, as has also been reported by other investigators.
A comparison of efficiency calibration of a HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer applied for non-destructive analysis of gamma-ray emitters in large volume samples of irregular shape is presented. The ...detector efficiency calibration was carried out during the analysis of cosmogenic radionuclides (
60
Co,
54
Mn,
22
Na and
26
Al) in fragments of the Košice meteorite. Fourteen meteorite fragments were available for the analysis with masses from 27 to 2,163 g. A reasonable agreement in the estimation of the HPGe detector efficiency was obtained using the Monte Carlo simulation GEANT 3 code, and the experimental calibration using radioactive standards mixed with iron–silica–copper powder housed in mock-ups of similar shapes as the original samples. The differences in the efficiency estimation obtained by both methods were within 10 %. It is recommended that the Monte Carlo simulation of the detector efficiency can be applied in routine analysis of gamma-ray emitters in large volume samples of regular or irregular shapes.
Results of forward and backward modeling of air mass transport from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to Slovakia were compared with aerosol radioactivity measurements. Several radionuclide ...maxima (
131
I,
134
Cs and
137
Cs) were observed in the Bratislava ground-level air in March–April 2011. The
131
I/
137
Cs activity ratio records showed the presence of two different fresh air masses in the Bratislava air, supported by simulations of forward and backward trajectories between Fukushima and Bratislava.
PDF
