11 research outputs found
Atrazine: cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, testicular effects and chemopreventive Interventions
Atrazine (ATZ) is an environmental pollutant that interferes with several aspects of mammalian cellular processes including germ cell development, immunological, reproductive and neurological functions. At the level of human exposure, ATZ reduces sperm count and contribute to infertility in men. ATZ also induces morphological changes similar to apoptosis and initiates mitochondria-dependent cell death in several experimental models. When in vitro experimental models are exposed to ATZ, they are faced with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytotoxicity and decreased growth rate at dosages that may vary with cell types. This results in differing cytotoxic responses that are influenced by the nature of target cells, assay types and concentrations of ATZ. However, oxidative stress could play salient role in the observed cellular and genetic toxicity and apoptosis-like effects which could be abrogated by antioxidant vitamins and flavonoids, including vitamin E, quercetin, kolaviron, myricetin and bioactive extractives with antioxidant effects. This review focuses on the differential responses of cell types to ATZ toxicity, testicular effects of ATZ in both in vitro and in vivo models and chemopreventive strategies, so as to highlight the current state of the art on the toxicological outcomes of ATZ exposure in several experimental model systems
Covid-19 vaccinations : the unknowns, challenges and hopes
The entire world has been suffering from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)
pandemic since March 11, 2020. More than a year later, the COVID‐19 vaccination
brought hope to control this viral pandemic. Here, we review the unknowns of the
COVID‐19 vaccination, such as its longevity, asymptomatic spread, long‐term side
effects, and its efficacy on immunocompromised patients. In addition, we discuss
challenges associated with the COVID‐19 vaccination, such as the global access and
distribution of vaccine doses, adherence to hygiene guidelines after vaccination, the
emergence of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)
variants, and vaccine resistance. Despite all these challenges and the fact that the
end of the COVID‐19 pandemic is still unclear, vaccines have brought great hope for
the world, with several reports indicating a significant decline in the risk of
COVID19‐related infection and hospitalizations.peer-reviewe
Causes and Risk Factors for Male-Factor Infertility in Nigeria: A Review
In recent times there has been a decline in the semen quality of young
healthy men worldwide, with similar findings being reported in Nigeria.
Although little is known about what is responsible for the decline in
male sperm count worldwide, significant associations have been reported
between impaired semen quality including sperm count, motility as well
as morphology and exposures to heavy metals such as cadmium and lead,
mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, pesticides, industrial chemicals and
endocrine factors. In Nigeria, the problem is further compounded by a
variety of factors such as sexually transmitted infections,
genito-urinary tract infections/inflammations and deficiencies of
dietary antioxidant nutrients, thereby increasing male-factor
contribution to infertility in the population. In this article, we
analyze data from different sources and present evidence of the
possible etiology and risk factors for male-factor infertility in
Nigeria.Récemment, il y a eu une baisse de la qualité du sperme des
jeunes hommes en bonne santé dans le monde et les résultats
similaires ont été rapportés au Nigeria. Bien
qu’on sache peu de ce qui est responsable de la baisse du nombre
de spermatozoïdes chez les hommes dans le monde entier, l’on
a rapporté des associations significatives entre la qualité
du sperme affaibli, y compris le nombre de spermatozoïdes, la
motilité aussi bien que la morphologie et l'exposition à des
métaux lourds comme le cadmium et le plomb, les mycotoxines telles
que les aflatoxines, les pesticides,les produits chimiques industriels
et les facteurs endocriniens . En Afrique tropicale, comme le Nigeria,
le problème est encore aggravé par une variété de
facteurs tels que les infections sexuellement transmissibles, les
infections des voies urogénitales / inflammations et les carences
de nutriments antioxydants alimentaires, augmentant ainsi la
contribution masculine à la stérilité chez la population
nigériane. Dans cet article, nous essayons d'analyser les
données provenant de nombreuses sources différentes sur
l'étiologie de la stérilité masculine due à des
paramètres du sperme affaibli chez les hommes nigérians
Rutin ameliorates oxidative stress and preserves hepatic and renal functions following exposure to cadmium and ethanol
Context: Rutin (RUT) is an antioxidant flavonoid with well-known metal chelating potentials. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of RUT against cadmium (Cd) + ethanol (EtOH)-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated with Cd (50 mg/kg) alone or in combination with EtOH (5 mg/kg) and RUT (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 15 days. After treatment, the liver, kidney and serum were removed for biochemical assays by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Serum, hepatic and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were highest in the Cd + EtOH group and lowest in Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with the highest dose of RUT (2.98 ± 0.34, 10.08 ± 2.32, 4.99 ± 1.21 vs. 1.69 ± 0.33, 6.13 ± 0.28, 3.66 ± 1.12 μmol MDA/mg protein, respectively). The serum level of Cd was increased in the Cd + EtOH treated animals compared to Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with 100 mg/kg RUT (2.54 ± 0.08 vs. 1.28 ± 0.04 ppm). Furthermore, RUT at the highest dose protected against Cd + EtOH-induced elevation of bilirubin and uric acid levels as well as activities of lactate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl transferase (62.86 ± 2.74 vs. 122.52 ± 6.35 µmol/L; 1.77 ± 0.35 vs. 3.23 ± 0.55 mmol/L; 9.56 ± 1.22 vs. 16.21 ± 1.64 U/L; 288.92 ± 40.12 vs. 159.8 ± 18.01 U/L). The histo-pathological changes in the liver and kidney were also reduced in the Cd + EtOH animals co-treated with RUT in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion and conclusion: RUT protected against the combined effects of Cd + EtOH on hepatic and renal functions and improved the antioxidant defence system in the blood
Effects of co-exposure to atrazine and ethanol on the oxidative damage of kidney and liver in Wistar rats
Influence of triazines and lipopolysaccharide coexposure on inflammatory response and histopathological changes in the testis and liver of BalB/c mice
Background: Triazines are environmental active chemicals that have been reported to alter the inflammatory status of the gonads. We tested the anti-inflammatory effect of the triazines (atrazine; ATZ, simazine; SMZ and cyanazine; CYZ) on the testis and compared it with the more classical liver model that has substantial populations of resident macrophages comparable to the testis. Methods: BalB/c mice were treated with 25 mg/kg ATZ, SMZ and CYZ for 30 days and injected with lipopolysaccharide (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) 6 h before sacrifice. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide level in the testis and liver homogenates were determined by spectrophotometry whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 concentrations were evaluated by immunoassay. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of the tissues were observed using a light microscope. Results: Myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 levels were decreased in the liver and testis of the triazines co-treated animals. SMZ has the most potent inhibitory effect and ATZ the least effect on inflammatory mediators in both tissues. Microscopic evaluation showed loss of inflammatory cells in the inter-tubular areas of the testis and few patchy masses of infiltrating inflammatory cells around the central vein of the liver. Conclusion: Triazines inhibit the levels of inflammatory mediators in the testis and liver of mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of triazines in a lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation model was established in this study