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Buchholzia coriacea has been reported to possess antifertility activities but little is known of the mechanisms responsible. This study was therefore designed to examine the mechanism responsible for the action of Buchholzia coriacea. Eighteen male Wistar rats (180-200 g) were used for this study. They were grouped into 3 (n = 6) namely, Control, Methanolic fraction of Buchholzia coriacea (MFBC) 50 mg/kg, and MFBC 100 mg/kg administered orally with respective dosage. After 6 weeks of administration, rats were euthanized, serum collected, while testes, epididymis and prostate were excised and homogenized. Testicular protein and testosterone, aromatase and 5α-reductase enzyme, 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β-HSD, interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-10 and Prostatic specific enzyme antigen (PSA) were assessed and data analyzed with ANOVA. There were significant increases in 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD levels in the MFBC 50 mg/kg with corresponding decreases in MFBC 100 mg/kg when compared to control. IL-1 was decreased in both doses while IL-10 increased in both doses compared to control. 5-α reductase enzyme was significantly decreased in the MFBC 100 mg/kg relative to the control. Testicular protein, testosterone and aromatase enzyme were not significantly different at both doses compared to control. PSA was significantly increased in the MFBC 100 mg/kg but not the 50 mg/kg relative to control. MFBC exhibits antifertility properties by interfering with testicular enzymes and inflammatory cytokines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the potential neurobehavioral effects of proanthocyanidin-rich-fraction (PRF) obtained from Vitis vinifera seed in male Albino mice. Adult (2½- to 3-month old) male Albino mice were treated with PRF (200, 100, 50 mg/kg) and subjected to diverse behavioral models specially designed for the assessment of central nervous system-acting agents. One-shot intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of PRF (200 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the rectal temperature, exploratory activities (locomotion, rearing, and grooming), anxiety-like responses (% open-arm time, open-arm entries but decreased the total number of enclosed arm times). However, acute i.p administration of PRF decreased the total score of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviors, latency to hexobarbitone-induced sleep, and increased the total sleep duration. Moreover, indices of convulsion (tonic flexion, extension, clonic convulsion, stupor, and recovery time) were decreased in the PRF treatment groups, especially the PRF (50 mg/kg)-treated mice. Based on these present findings, it could therefore be inferred that systemic administration of PRF of V. vinifera seed origin induces diverse modification on the behaviors of the treated mice stemming from anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and decrease in core temperature., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effects of proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (PRF) of Vitis vinifera seed extract on the markers of hippocampal-dependent memory in convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) rat model. One hundred juvenile Wistar rats were randomized into 6 groups. Group 1 (n = 10) received propylene glycol (PG 0.1 ml/100 g) intraperitoneally (i.p), while convulsion was induced in groups 2-6 (n = 18 each) using lithium (127 mg/kg i.p) and pilocarpine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg i.p). The established CSE rats in groups 2-6 received a daily treatment of PG (0.1 ml i.p), PRF (30 mg/kg i.p), PRF (20 mg/kg BW i.p), PRF (10 mg/kg BW i.p) or diazepam (5 mg/kg BW i.p) for seven days. Thereafter, they were kept untreated but with access to feed and water for 21 days. The control and CSE-treated rats were subjected to behavioral tests, while the biochemical and histomorphological evaluations of the hippocampus were done after the sacrifice. The results were presented as mean ± SEM in graphs or tables. The level of significance was considered when p < 0.05. There was significant decrease in the hippocampal-dependent memory, hippocampal weight and an increased malondialdehyde concentration following CSE. The activities of acetylcholinesterase decreased significantly in the PRF-treated CSE rats. The hippocampal glial cells and granule count increased significantly following CSE, with various neurodegenerative features in the CA1 of the hippocampus. These derangements were attenuated significantly following PRF treatment. Memory impairment following CSE may be attenuated with the administration of PRF from V. vinifera seed in rats., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared that this research was self-sponsored and conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be interpreted as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The kidney plays a critical role in human health and deviation from its normal function can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Exposure to excess testosterone in women has been linked to several disorders, including kidney disorder and acting undoubtedly through androgen receptor (AR), whereas the involvement of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is unclear. Likewise, the renal effect of sodium acetate (SAc) during late gestational exposure to testosterone is not well known. We hypothesized that SAc or MR blockade would protect the kidney of testosterone-exposed pregnant rats against glutathione and adenosine depletion. Twenty-five pregnant Wistar rats were treated (sc) with olive oil, testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg) singly or in combination with SAc (200 mg/kg; p.o.), androgen receptor (AR) blocker, flutamide (Flu; 7.5 mg/kg; p.o.) or (MR) blocker, eplerenone (Eple; 0.5 mg/kg) between gestational days 14 and 19. Glutathione, adenosine and nitric oxide were decreased while uric acid (UA), xanthine oxidase (XO), malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase activity and free fatty acids were increased in the kidneys of gestational rats exposed to testosterone. Also, plasma urea and creatinine were elevated. SAc and Eple reversed tested testosterone-induced effects in gestational rats. The exposure to testosterone impairs renal antioxidant defense via AR and MR during late gestation in pregnant rats. The study also provides evidence that sodium acetate protects the kidneys of gestational testosterone-exposed rats against defective antioxidant defense in like manner as MR or AR antagonist.

The mechanism of the previously reported antidiabetic effect of Basella alba is unknown. This study investigated the role of B. alba aqueous leaf extract in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines and islet morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar rats, between 8 and 10 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) and administered the following treatments: Healthy control (H-c) and Diabetic control (D-c) animals received normal saline 0.5 mL/100 g body weight daily, while Healthy Treatment (H-Ba) and Diabetic Treatment (D-Ba) rats received the plant extract 200 mg/kg body weight daily. All treatments were administered by oral gavage. Diabetes was induced in D-c and D-Ba rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body). The body weight and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were recorded every week for 4 weeks, after which the rats were euthanized and samples collected for further analysis. After the experiment, FBS level was significantly reduced ( p < 0.0001) in rats in the D-Ba group, but increased ( p < 0.001) in rats in the D-c group. The absolute (H-c and H-Ba vs D-c, p < 0.05) and relative (D-Ba vs H-c, p < 0.05; D-Ba vs H-Ba, p < 0.005) weights of the pancreases were significantly higher after the experiment. The rats in the D-c group had significantly higher levels of serum interleukin-1β ( p < 0.001 vs H-c; p < 0.05 vs H-Ba and D-Ba) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 ( p < 0.0001), but lower levels of interleukin-10 ( p < 0.05) in comparison with the other groups. Histopathological examination revealed severe interstitial congestion, reduced islet area ( p < 0.0001), and increased islet cell density in the D-c group compared with those in the D-Ba group. From these findings, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of B. alba stimulates the recovery of beta-islet morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by modulating the peripheral production of inflammatory cytokines., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest with regard to the publication of any part of this study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of intrauterine exposure to nicotine in the first fourteen days of gestation on the testicular function of male Wistar rats., Methods: Pups of both control and nicotine-treated groups were selected and sacrificed on day 60 after birth. Birth weight, weight of reproductive organs, hormonal profile, and histopathology were determined in the first filial (F1) generation., Results: Significant decreases in birth weight and litter size were found in the pups treated with nicotine when compared with the animals in the control group. Significant decreases were also observed in the testicular weight of nicotine-treated rats, but not in epididymal weight, when compared to controls. Testosterone levels were significantly decreased, atrophy was observed in the genital epithelial cells, and distortions were noted in the testes of nicotine-treated F1 males., Conclusion: These results suggest that nicotine exposure during pregnancy may cause endocrine disruption, and thus produce deleterious effects on offspring reproductive function.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of nicotine on serum progesterone and estradiol levels as possible cause of abortion during first trimester of gestation in female Wistar rats., Methods: Fourteen female rats with regular estrous cycles in the same phase of cycle were divided into two groups (Control and Nicotine-treated) with each group receiving 1ml of distilled water and 1mg/kg of nicotine respectively for the first seven days of pregnancy (GD1-7). The animals were sacrificed on the 8th day and blood samples were collected for hormonal analyses. Ovaries and uteruses were excised, weighed, and prepared for histological study., Results: This study revealed a significant decrease in serum progesterone and estradiol levels in the nicotine-treated group when compared to controls. The histological findings equally showed degeneration in the cytoarchitecture of the ovary of the nicotine-treated group., Conclusion: The observed hormonal imbalances and alteration in the cytoarchitecture of the ovary caused by nicotine in the first trimester of pregnancy may result in abortion during this period.

The efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to an increase demand for therapeutic use, thereby necessitating investigation into drug toxicity. This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of HAART on sperm parameters and testicular oxidative stress in lean and obese rats. Wistar rats (males, n = 40, weighing 180~200 g) were assigned randomly into 4 groups and treated accordingly for 16 weeks as follows: Control (C): lean group fed with standard rat chow; Diet induced obesity (DIO): obese animals fed a high caloric diet; C + ART: lean animals treated with HAART; DIO + ART: obese animals treated with HAART. An antiretroviral drug combination of Tenofovir, Emtricitabine and Efavirenz at a dose of 17, 26 and 50 mg/kg/day was administered for the latter 6 weeks via jelly cube feeding. At the end of the experimental period, sperm analysis was performed on sperm collected from the caudal epididymis, while the testis was homogenized for antioxidant enzyme and lipid peroxidation assays. Results showed that HAART significantly decreased sperm motility ( p < 0.05) in both lean and obese animals, and viability ( p < 0.05) in the DIO group. Testicular glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased ( p < 0.05), while Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were significantly increased ( p < 0.05) when the DIO+ART group was compared to Control group. Thus, the decreased sperm qualities associated with HAART might be as a result of increased testicular oxidative stress prominent in obese animals., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST None declared by all authors.

Background: Oxidative stress is frequently identified as a key element in the pathophysiology of many complications of diabetes mellitus, including reproductive complications. The antioxidant potential of medicinal plants have been suggested for therapeutic focus of diseases in recent reports., Objective: To investigate the effect of Basella alba (Ba) aqueous leave extract on diabetes-induced oxidative stress., Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats (8-10 weeks) were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 10) and treated as follows; Control (C + Ns) and Diabetic (D + Ns) animals received oral normal saline 0.5 ml/100 g body weight daily, while Healthy Treatment (H + Ba) and Diabetic Treatment (D + Ba) rats were given Ba extract at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg body weight daily. Treatment was by gavage and lasted 4 weeks in all groups. Diabetes was induced in D + Ns and D + Ba rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) recorded weekly in all rats afterwards. Animals were euthanized at the end of the experiment and blood samples, pancreas, testes, and epididymis were preserved for analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers., Results: Oral administration of aqueous leave extract of Ba significantly ( P < 0.0001) lowered FBS in D + Ba rats. There was significantly higher blood superoxide dismutase activity and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power, but lower serum concentration of conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in D + Ba compared to D + Ns rats ( P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Ba exerts antioxidant effects in the gonads by enhancing antioxidant parameters in circulating blood, but not necessarily in the gonadal tissues., Summary: Oral treatment of diabetic rats with aqueous leave extract of Basella alba exerts antioxidant effects in the gonads by enhancing antioxidant parameters in circulating blood, but not necessarily in the gonadal tissues. Abbreviations Used: AP - Antioxidant parameters, Ba - Basella alba , CAT - Catalase, CDs - Conjugated dienes, DM - Diabetes mellitus, FBS - Fasting blood sugar, FRAP - Ferric reducing antioxidant power, GSH - reduced glutathione, Ns - Normal saline, ORAC - oxygen radical antioxidant capacity, RNS - reactive nitrogen species, ROS - reactive oxygen species, SOD - superoxide dismutase, TAC - Total antioxidant capacity, TBARS - thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TEAC - trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Preconceptual sex selection is still a highly debatable process whereby X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa are isolated prior to fertilization of the oocyte. Although various separation techniques are available, none can guarantee 100% accuracy. The aim of this study was to separate X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using methods based on the viability difference between the X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. A total of 18 experimental semen samples were used, written consent was obtained from all donors and results were analysed in a blinded fashion. Spermatozoa were exposed to different pH values (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5), increased temperatures (37°C, 41°C, and 45°C) and ROS level (50 μM, 750 μM, and 1,000 μM). The live and dead cell separation was done through a modified swim-up technique. Changes in the sex-chromosome ratio of samples were established by double-label fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) before and after processing. The results indicated successful enrichment of Xchromosome-bearing spermatozoa upon incubation in acidic media, increased temperatures, and elevated H 2 O 2 . This study demonstrated the potential role for exploring the physiological differences between X-and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in the development of preconceptual gender selection., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST None declared by all authors.

Background: The administration of nicotine is associated with altered hormonal imbalances and increased serum and testicular nitric oxide (NO) level., Aim: This study sought to investigate the effects of NO inhibition with N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on altered hormonal imbalance in adult male albinorats., Materials and Methods: Rats were administered with 0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 1.0 mg/kg BW nicotine and were treated with L-NAME in the drinking water or drinking water alone for 30 days. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin using radioimmunoassay., Results: Nicotine administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) testosterone in the low and high dose treated groups and FSH in the high dose treated group when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean LH and prolactin level in the high dose treated group when compared with the control. Concomitant treatment with nicotine and L-NAME produced significant increases in testosterone and FSH, and a decrease in prolactin in 1.0 mg/kg BW. L-NAME alone did not lead to a significant increase in testosterone when compared with control., Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the suppressive effects of nicotine on testosterone level of the adult male rat can be prevented by NOS blockade with L-NAME. It appears that these beneficial effects are mediated primarily within the gonad; however, the involvement of the pituitary cannot be totally ruled out.

Washed human spermatozoa from 12 normozoospermic donors were treated with different concentrations of nicotine 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mm and were compared to spermatozoa suspended in nutrient medium only (control). Computer-aided sperm analysis was used to assess sperm kinematic properties after 30, 60, 120 and 180 min of incubation. Viability was assessed by means of a dye exclusion staining technique (eosin/nigrosin), while acrosome-reacted cells were identified under a fluorescent microscope using fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin as a probe. Nicotine significantly reduced total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat cross-frequency, viability and caused spontaneous acrosome reaction at concentrations of ≥5.0 mm after 2 and 3 h of exposure. Nicotine concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mm had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on spermatozoa except that 1.0 mm significantly decreased (P < 0.05) sperm progressive motility at 2 and 3 h of incubation as well as viability after 3 h of incubation. This study concludes that the occurrence of high levels of nicotine in the body and seminal fluid might adversely affect fertilisation capacity of human spermatozoa through a mechanism that involves decreased motility, viability and premature induction of the acrosome reaction., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background: Oxidative stress has repeatedly been implicated as the leading cause of several disease conditions., Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of nicotine administration on serum antioxidant levels in male albino rats., Materials and Methods: Forty male rats (150-180 g) were divided into five groups and treated orally for 30 days. Group I (control) received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline and Groups II and III received 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) of nicotine, respectively for 30 days. The fourth and fifth groups were administered with 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg BW of nicotine for 30 days, but were left untreated for another 30 days. Serum was assayed for nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme., Results: The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg nicotine treated groups. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 1.0 mg/kg treated group when compared with the control., Conclusion: The present study shows that nicotine administration is associated with decreased serum antioxidant and increase lipid peroxidation ameliorated by nicotine withdrawal in male rat.

Oral contraceptive (OC) use and increased fructose feeding have been associated with altered cardiometabolic effects. The effect of increased dietary fructose during OC use on cardiometabolic parameters is unknown. We investigated the effects of a high-fructose diet on body weight gain, fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance, plasma lipid and hemorheological parameters in female rats treated with a combination of OC steroids (norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol; NEE). Rats were given (p.o.) vehicle, high-dose NEE (10.0 μg norgestrel/1.0 μg ethinyl estradiol) or low-dose NEE (1.0 μg norgestrel/0.1 μg ethinyl estradiol) with or without high dietary fructose daily for 6 weeks. Results demonstrated that high-dose NEE but not low-dose NEE treatment led to significant increases in hematocrit, blood viscosity, and decreases in body weight gain, glucose tolerance, and plasma HDL-cholesterol level. Both NEE treatments resulted in significant increases in plasma viscosity and triglyceride. Increased dietary fructose without NEE treatment produced significant increases in fasting blood glucose, hematocrit, blood and plasma viscosities, while increased dietary fructose significantly potentiated the effects on blood and plasma viscosities observed during NEE treatment. Conversely, the effects of NEE treatment on body weight gain, glucose tolerance, plasma triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were significantly attenuated. In conclusion, the results indicate that increase in dietary fructose may worsen abnormal blood rheology. The results also demonstrate that increased dietary fructose may not impact negatively on glucose and lipid metabolisms during OC use. The findings imply that fructose-enriched diet might be an important consideration during OC use regarding blood rheological properties.

Objectives: The use of nicotine through smoking remains a serious health problem. It has been associated with reduced fertility, although the mechanism responsible is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate whether nicotine-induced infertility is associated with altered male reproductive hormones in male albino rats., Materials and Methods: Forty male rats were divided equally into five groups and treated orally for thirty days. Group I, which served as the control received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline, Group II and III received 0.5 mg/kg (low dose) and 1.0 mg/kg (high dose) body weight of nicotine, respectively. The fourth and fifth groups were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine but were left untreated for another 30 days. These groups served as the recovery groups. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), and prolactin using radioimmunoassay., Results: Results showed that nicotine administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) testosterone in the low and high treated groups and FSH in the high dose treated group when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean LH and prolactin level in the high dose treated group when compared with the control. However, the values of the recovery groups were comparable with the control., Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that nicotine administration is associated with distorted reproductive hormones in male rats although ameliorated by nicotine cessation. It is plausible that the decreased testosterone level is associated with testicular dysfunction rather than a pituitary disorder.

This study aimed at investigating the mechanism by which sodium arsenite induces brain injury and the role of L-ascorbate. Thirty adult (n=5) Wistar rats weighing between 140 and 160 g were used. Group 1 neither received sodium arsenite nor L-ascorbate (control), group 2 was administered low dose of arsenite only, group 3 received high dose of arsenite only, group 4 was administered L-ascorbate only, group 5 was administered low dose of arsenite and L-ascorbate, and group 6 received high dose of arsenite and L-ascorbate. M0 alon dialdehyde, MDA, levels were significantly increased in rats treated with high dose of arsenite when compared with those treated with low dose of arsenite. However, all treated groups except those treated with L-ascorbate only showed significant increase in MDA levels when compared with the control group. Rats treated with high dose of arsenite and L-ascorbate showed a significantly higher MDA level than those treated with low dose of arsenite and L-ascorbate. However, catalase activity, body weight gain, brain weight and mean food consumption were comparable across all groups. Brain tissue total protein was similar in all groups except in both groups treated with high dose of arsenite, where they were significantly reduced when compared with the control group. I0 n conclusion, sodium arsenite treatment induces brain injury via a mechanism associated with lipid peroxidation, but not catalase-dependent. However, L-ascorbate ameliorates arsenite-induced oxidative injury in the brain. L-ascorbate antioxidative potential in alleviating arsenite-induced brain injury is dependent on the concentration of arsenite.

Evidence exists that women have lower orthostatic tolerance than men during quiescent standing. Water ingestion has been demonstrated to improve orthostatic tolerance in patients with severe autonomic dysfunction. We therefore sought to test the hypothesis that water ingestion would improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy young women more than in aged-matched men. Thirty seven (22 men and 15 women) healthy subjects aged 22.5± 1.7 and 21.5±1.4 (means±SD) respectively, ingested 50ml (control) and 500ml of water 40min before orthostatic challenge on two separate days of appointment in a randomized controlled, cross-over design. Seated and standing blood pressure and heart rate were determined. Orthostatic tolerance was assessed as the time to presyncope during standing. Ingesting 500ml of water significantly improves orthostatic tolerance by 22% (32.0 ± 5.2 vs 26.2 ± 2.4min; p< 0.05) in men and by 33% (24.2±2.8 vs 18.3 ± 3.2; p< 0.05) in women. Thirty minutes after ingesting 500ml of water, seated systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure rose significantly in men while only systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure rose significantly in women. However ingesting 500ml of water did not have significant effect on seated heart rate in both men and women. Ingestion of 500ml of water significantly attenuated both the orthostatic challenge-induced increased heart rate and decreased pulse pressure responses especially in women. Diastolic blood pressure tended to be positively correlated with orthostatic tolerance strongly in men than in women. Pulse pressure correlated positively while heart rate correlated negatively to orthostatic tolerance in women but not in men independent of other correlates. Water ingestion is associated with orthostatic tolerance strongly in women but weakly in men independent of other correlates. In conclusion, the findings in the present study demonstrated that water ingestion caused improvement strongly in young women than in young men. This improvement is associated with increased pulse pressure and decreased tachycardiac responses during orthostatic challenge.

Introduction: Infertility is common among couples of child-bearing age and approximately half of known causes of primary infertility are attributable to male factor. It is still unclear whether the injurious effects of cigarette smoking on sperm characteristics and infertility are due to nicotine. Therefore, the present study investtigated the effects of orally administered of nicotine on sperm characteristics and libido in adult male albino rats. The study also sought nicotine effects on fertility rate, litter size and weight in female animals cohabited with nicotine treated male rats., Methods: Forty male and twenty-five female rats were used for the study. The male rats were divided into five groups and were treated for a period of 30 days with nicotine 0.5 mg/kg (low dose) and 1.0 mg/kg (high dose) per body weight while the control rats received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline. The fourth and fifth groups were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine but were left untreated for another 30 days. These groups served as the recovery groups. At the end of each experimental period, sperm analysis, fertility study, litter weight and size were determined., Results: Sperm motility and count significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while the percentage of abnormality significantly increased (P < 0.05) in both treatment groups. However, there was an insignificant decrease (P > 0.05) in the viability and semen volume of the treated groups. Fertility studies revealed that nicotine reduced libido in male rats, litter weight and number delivered by the untreated female during the experiments., Conclusion: The present study showed that nicotine has a dose-dependent deleterious effect on the sperm characteristics and that fertility is ameliorated by nicotine cessation in male rats.

This study investigated the effects of oral administration of nicotine on body and reproductive organ weight, serum testosterone level and testicular histology in adult male rats. Forty male rats divided into five groups and treated for a period of 30 days with 0.5mg/kg (low dose) and 1.0 mg/kg (high dose) body weight of nicotine while the control rats received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline. The fourth and fifth groups were gavaged with 0.5mg/kg and 1.0mg/kg body weight of nicotine but were left untreated for another 30 days. These groups served as the recovery groups.&nbsp; At the end of each experimental period, the animals were scarified and their reproductive organs were removed and weighed immediately. There was no significant change in the body weight. There was a significant decrease (p <0.05) in the testicular and epididymal weight of rats for both treatments while the decrease in the seminal vesicle weight for both treatment groups was not significant. The prostate weight was not significantly increased in both groups. The recovery groups showed appreciable recovery in their organ weight. Serum level of testosterone of both groups was significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner when compared with those of the control rats. The histological section showed testicular degeneration and disorganization in the cytoarchitecture, as the observed changes were pronounced in the high dose group than the low dose group. However, there were both regeneration of the germinal epithelium and restructuring of the interstitum towards normal in the recovery groups. No lesion was observed in the epididymis of the rats. The results suggest that nicotine has deleterious effect on the male reproductive organ of albino rats ameliorated by nicotine cessation.

The effects of high calcium diet on body weight in OC treated rats are unknown. This study therefore investigated the effect of increasing dietary calcium from 0.9% to 2.5% on body weight, food ingestion, water intake, heart weight index and renal weight index in female Sprague-Dawley rats treated with a combination of OC steroids (ethinyloestradiol + norgestrel). The rats were assigned into three groups of average of 11 rats each; control, OC-treated and OC + Calcium &ndash; treated groups and administered orally for 10 weeks. Food and water intake, body weight, cardiac weight index, left ventricular weight index, renal weight index and serum calcium level were determined. The result shows that OC treated rats had significantly lower serum calcium concentration, body weight gain, food, water and calcium intake than those of the control rats. The OC + Calcium &ndash; treated rat had significantly higher serum calcium concentration, food, water and calcium intake but significantly lower body weight than those of the OC - treated rats. OC + Calcium - treated rats had significantly higher water intake, calcium intake and significantly lower body weight and food intake when compared with the control rats. Cardiac weight index and renal weight index was comparable in all groups. In conclusion, combined OC-induced reduction in weight gain might be associated with inhibition of the feeding center and consequent inhibition of the thirst center. Co-administration of dietary calcium augmented the reduction in weight gain seen in OC-treated rats probably by further suppression of the feeding and thirst centers.

To evaluate the effect of quassin on female reproductive functions, 42 albino rats (35 females and 7 males) were used. The female albino rats were divided into seven groups of five rats each. Group I served as the control group and received distilled water while Groups II, III and IV rats were treatedorally with 0.1mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg body weight of quassin for 60 days respectively. Groups V, VI and VII rats were also treated orally with 0.1 mg/kg, 1.0mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg body weight of quassin for 60 days but were left untreated for another 30 days, to serve as the recovery groups. At the end of each experimental period, blood samples were collected from each rat. Fertility study was done by cohabiting one untreated male with the five female rats in each group for 10 days. Quassin did not adversely affect the weight of the kidney, heart, liver and the body of the rats. However there was a significant decrease in the weight of the ovary and uterus in all the groups relative to the control. There was also a significant decrease in serum estrogen levels in quassin treated rats. The quassin treated rats had a significantly decreased mean litter number and weight. Histological studies show a disorganization and degeneration in the ovary while the uterus showed signs of vacuolation and disorganization. However, these effects were ameliorated after quassin was withdrawn from the rats. The results suggest that quassin has female anti-fertility properties, possibly acting via inhibition of estrogen secretion.

Studies that associated oestrogen-progestogen oral contraceptive (OC) use with altered glucose and lipid metabolisms in women did not account for possible influence in dietary magnesium. The use of OC and glucose and lipid metabolism seems to remain a broad public health concern since over 100 million women use OC world wide for a prolonged period of time. The study, therefore, sought to investigate in a female rat model whether or not glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemia associated with OC are influenced by dietary magnesium status. Control and OC- treated rats were maintained on control diet, whereas OC+ Mg- treated rats were on high magnesium diet. OC- treated and OC+Mg treated rats also received a combination of OC steroids, ethinyl oestradiol and norgestrel (orally). When compared with the controls, OC treatment led to significant reduced glucose tolerance and plasma HDL-cholesterol and significant increases in plasma LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic indices in OC- treated rats. Treatment with OC did not result in significant attenuation in these parameters in OC+Mg- treated rats when compared with the controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidaemia associated with OC use may be prevented by increased dietary magnesium.