The therapeutic efficacy of N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) and zinc sulphate on di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)‐induced testicular oxido‐nitrergic stress in rats was investigated in 36 male Wistar rats ...(170 ± 10 g) randomly assigned into one of six groups (n = 6). Group 1 (control) received 2.5 ml/kg of distilled water for 42 days, while group 2 (vehicle) received 2.5 ml/kg of corn oil for 42 days. Groups 3,4,5, and 6 were administered DEHP (750 mg/kg/day) for 21 days, after which groups 4, 5, and 6 received zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day), NAC (100 mg/kg/day), and zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day) + NAC (100 mg/kg/day) for an additional 21 days respectively. After the experimental period, the animals were euthanized by light thiopental sodium, and their testes were carefully dissected out for histological and biochemical assays. The result shows a significant alteration in testicular levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, sulphydryl levels, dehydrogenases and testicular architecture following the administration of DEHP. These effects were reversed by coadministration of NAC and zinc sulphate in the study. We therefore concluded that the combined effects of NAC and ZnSO4 effectively improved testicular antioxidant status and reduced testicular nitregic stress, thus improving testicular architecture and functions.
The study investigated the impact of labour force participation rateand its implications on food security, fertility rate and economicgrowth in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). Using datafrom 6 ...countries over the period of 1990 tо 2016 and pool autoregressivedіstrіbutеd lаg (PАRDL) bоunds tеstіng рrосеdurе was employed. Theresult from the study showed that female labour force participationand health expenditure per capita determine food security and malelabour force participation, female labour force participation, grosscapita formation, health education per capita and enrolment insecondary education are the variables that determine fertility rate,while male labour force participation, female labour forceparticipation, health expenditure per capita and enrolment insecondary education affect GDP per capita. The study recommendedthat policies should be directed toward increasing female labour forceparticipation which will compliment male labour force participationas well as increase decent and productive work opportunities forfemale workers which will promote GDP per capita, leading toreduction in fertility rate and promote food security among membercountries. Furthermore, family-friendly policies will further encouragefemales to participate in the labour market. Therefore, more effortsshould be made to promote female labour force participation as the entireWAMZ countries will benefit from the growth and welfare improvementthat it will generate. WAMZ countries governments need build theircapacity through investment in health and education in order toenhance productivity of the labour force which will lead to economicgrowth, reduction in fertility rate as well as promote food security.This study has contributed empirically and theoretically to the bodyof knowledge. The scope covered also makes the study uniquelyrobust and different from previous ones.
The study investigated the effects of quercetin and putative mechanisms involved against endosulfan-testicular impairments in rats. Rats were allotted into five treatment groups (n = 5). Groups 1–2 ...had normal saline and maize oil (vehicle) (10 mL/kg), group 3 received quercetin (20 mg/kg), 4–5 had endosulfan (5 mg/kg, p.o) orally for 28 days. However, from days 14–28, group 4 received an additional dose of vehicle (10 mL/kg, p.o./day), while group 5 received quercetin (20 mg/kg, p.o./day). Thereafter, blood samples and testes were harvested for markers of cholinergic, hormonal and testicular oxido-nitrergic, inflammatory, apoptosis and proton pump ATPase activities. Also, testicular histopathological changes were also evaluated alongside with germ cell count, testicular injury and spermatogenesis score. Quercetin increased testicular/body weights and spermatogenesis, androgenic hormones (follicle stimulating hormones, FSH; luteinizing hormone, LH; testosterone), acetylcholinesterase levels and attenuated altered membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, increased caspases-3 levels in rats exposed to endosulfan. Moreover, quercetin increased testicular B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated x-protein (Bax) and proton pump adenosine trisphosphate (ATPase) and sialic acid levels. Of note, quercetin reversed endosulfan-mediated increased malondialdehyde, nitrite, peroxynitrite formation, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and lowered antioxidant enzymes in the testes. The increased levels of testicular myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) by endosulfan were also reduced by quercetin administration. Additionally, quercetin attenuate endosulfan-induced testicular histopathological changes of rats. Our findings showed that quercetin significantly inhibited endosulfan-induced testicular damage and altered spermatogenesis through inhibition of oxido-nitrergic pathway, inflammatory mediators, apoptosis, acetylcholinesterase activity and enhancement of testicular hormones and improvement in testicular ATPase activity.
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•Quercetine reduces acetylcholinesterase activity in endosulfan-treated rats.•Quercetine reversed endosulfan-induced decreased Na+K+-, Ca2+-, Mg2+- and H+-ATPase biosynthesis.•Quercetine reduces endosulfan-induced testicular inflammation and apoptosis.•Quercetine increased sperm spermatogenesis and sperm integrity in the testes.•Quercetine reduces endosulfan-induced histo-architectural damage.
This study aimed to investigate the role of iodine intake in thyroid function ofdiabetic rats. Twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats were placed into four groups (n=6): Group (non-diabetic without ...iodine), Group 2 (non-diabetic + iodine), Group 3 (diabetic without iodine) and Group 4 (diabetic + iodine). 10mg/kg bw of iodine were mixed with the feeds. Serum triodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase antibodies were assessed using ELISA. Serum MDA, SOD, and NO levels were assessed with spectrophotometry. In the diabetic rats, lower mean serum T4 and TSH concentrations were observed (T4: 13.16±0.55 Vs 11.75±0.21 mg/dL, TSH: 2.62±0.11 Vs 2.28±0.08 IU/mL). Iodine treatment further reduced T4 and increased TSH concentrations (T4: 11.75±0.21 vs 6.75±0.22 mg/dL, TSH: 2.28±0.08 Vs 3.08±0.15 IU/mL). Thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase antibodies were absent in all the rats. It was also observed that iodine intake caused an increase in oxidative stress in both diabetic and non-diabetic treated rats (MDA; 18.4±1.3 Vs 22.2±2.7 μmol/l X 10-5, NO; 14.08±0.38 Vs 13.24±0.07μm/l) and increased SOD levels in diabetic rats (44.44±2.94 Vs 68.94±0.91 mg/ml); this increase could be due to the increased TSH. Consumption of excess iodine suppressed thyroid function in diabetic rats and induced oxidative stress in both diabetic and non-diabetic treated rats.
Coconut water (CW) contains cysteine, an amino acid which influences glutathione metabolism and promotes reproductive functions. The effects of CW and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) were compared on the ...hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal-axis of danazol-(a GnRH antagonist)-treated rats. Seven groups of male rats were treated orally for six weeks as follows; 1: 20 mL/kg distilled water (Control); 2: 20 mL/kg Corn oil; 3: 20 mL/kg CW; 4: 100 mg/kg NAC; 5: 200 mg/kg Danazol; 6: Danazol+CW; 7: Danazol+NAC. Serum gonadotropins and testosterone; sperm indices; testicular malondialdehyde and glutathione were determined. Sperm quality increased in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7, and reduced in group 5 compared with groups 1 and 2. Gonadotropins and testosterone increased in groups 6 and 7 compared with group 5. Malondialdehyde reduced, while glutathione increased, in groups 3 and 4 compared with group 1. These similarities suggest that cysteine contributes to the effects of coconut water along the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal-axis.
The very hazardous and persistent aquatic pollutants known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to bioaccumulate in a range of marine mammals. Human and animal studies have shown that ...exposure to PCBs affects the male reproductive system. This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effects of D-ribose-L-cysteine (DRLC) on PCB-mediated ATPase disruption of the neuroendocrine transmembrane ion pump and peroxynitrite formation in rat models. After the first 15 days of PCB treatment, DRLC (50 mg/kg) was administered orally for 15 days, beginning on day 16 and continuing through day 30. PCB (2 mg/kg) was administered for 30 days. All tests were performed in accordance with accepted procedures. Kisspeptin (kissp), gonadotropin-releasing hormone alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) were all analyzed in blood on day 31. The testes were also removed and sent for testosterone, testicular antioxidant enzymes (L-C and PrDx-4), androgenic enzymes (3β-HSD and 17β-HSD), sulfhydryl content, and transmembrane ion pump (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and H+ ions) The results of the study showed that Kisspeptin, GnRH, Testosterone, L-C, PrDx-4, 3-HSD, 17-HSD, HOST, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and H+-ATPase levels were significantly increased by DRLC. In addition, DRLC therapy dramatically reduced levels of ONOO-, H2O2, 8-OHdG, ALP, and LDH, while increasing TAOC to restore GSH-Px levels. The results of the present study suggest that DRLC is a potentially effective therapeutic approach to reduce PCB-induced neuroendocrine transmembrane ion pump disruption in an experimental rat model. The primary mechanism underlying this effect may be its antioxidant activities against the formation of peroxynitrite and elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide.
HIGHLIGHTS
DRLC abates PCBs-induced peroxynitrite stress in rats’ testes
DRLC abates PCBs-induced sulphydryl depletion in rats’ testes
DRLC ameliorated PCB-induced alteration in testicular ionic ATPase pumps
DRLC enhances testicular antioxidant enzymes in rats treated with PCBs
DRLC reversed PCB-induced decreased spermatogenesis in rats’ testes
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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