Cadmium Increases the Sensitivity of Adolescent FemaleMice to Nicotine-Related Behavioral Deficits

This study investigates spatial and nonspatial working memory, anxiety related behavior, and motor activities in cadmium and/ornicotine exposed female adolescent mice. P28 female adolescent mice (albino strain) were divided into four groups of five

Motor and memory function in rat models of cyanide toxicity and vascular occlusion induced ischemic injury

Although oxidative stress is characteristic of global vascular occlusion and cyanide toxicity, the pattern of cerebral metabolism reconditioning and rate of progression or reversal of neural tissue damage differ for both forms of ischemia. Thus, it is important to compare cognitive and motor functions in both models of ischemia involving cyanide treatment (CN) and vascular occlusion (VO). Adult Wistar rats (N = 30) were divided into three groups; VO (n = 12), CN (n = 12) and Control-CO (n = 6). The CN was treated with 30 mg/Kg of potassium cyanide (KCN); VO was subjected to global vascular occlusion-both for duration of 10 days. The control (CO) was fed on normal rat chow and water for the same duration. At day 10, the test and control groups (CN, VO and CO) were subjected to motor function tests (Table edge tests and Open Field Test) and memory function tests (Y-Maze and Novel object recognition) while the withdrawal groups CN-I and VO-I were subjected to the same set of tests at day 20 (the withdrawal phase). The results show that both cyanide toxicity and vascular occlusion caused a decline in motor and memory function when compared with the control. Also, the cyanide treatment produced a more rapid decline in these behavioral parameters when compared with the vascular occlusion during the treatment phase. After the withdrawal phase, cyanide treatment (CN-I) showed either an improvement or restoration of motor and memory function when compared to the CN and control. Withdrawal of vascular occlusion caused no improvement, and in some cases a decline in motor and memory function. In conclusion, cyanide toxicity caused a decline in motor and memory function after the treatment while vascular occlusion caused no significant decline in cognition and motor function at this time. After the withdrawal phase, the effect of cyanide toxicity was reduced and significant improvements were observed in the behavioral tests (motor and cognitive), while a decline in these functions were seen in the vascular occlusion group after this phase. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The Cytoarchitectural alterations in the neocortex of Wistar rats: Effects of aqueous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves extract exposure

This study investigated the effects of corresponding 11.7 mg/kg body weight and 5.8 mg/kg body weight/day of the tobacco leaves aqueous extract for a period of 20 days on the functions of rats’ brain after extract administration. Nicotiana tabacum is the scientific name of the tobacco plant grown in several countries of the world. It has been used in variables ways such as smoking, snuffing, even chewing, etc. 24 young rats of both sexes were used. They were divided into 3 groups, A, B, C of 8 rats each (Female (n = 4) and male (n = 4)). Group A were given 11.7 mg of the extract per kg body weight, group B 5.8 mg of the extract per kg body weight in 0.5 ml of distilled water per day throughout the 20 experimental days while group C were given equal volume (0.5 ml) of distilled water as well. The rats were sacrificed at day 21 by cervical dislocation and the brains were excised and fixed in formol calcium for 4 days and processed using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method and Cresyl Fast Violet (CFV) staining technique. There was a statistical significant decrease in the body weight, brain weight and relative brain weight between groups A and B compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was enlargement of the somata in the group A administered with 11.7 mg/kg B.Wt per day of the extract while those in group B appeared more spindle compared to those cells in group C. Also, the non – homogenous appearance of myelinated neocortex of the neuropil appear clearly in the treated groups compared to control (Figure 3). Therefore, the results suggested that the consumption of the aqueous extract of N. tabacum leaves may alter the normal functions of the brain which may lead to brain dysfunction, despite its “pleasant” effects and also help in reduction in weight gain

Nicotine-Cadmium Interaction Alters Exploratory Motor Function and Increased Anxiety in Adult Male Mice

In this study we evaluated the time dependence in cadmium-nicotine interaction and its effect on motor function, anxiety linked behavioural changes, serum electrolytes, and weight after acute and chronic treatment in adult male mice. Animals were separated randomly into four groups ofn= 6 animals each. Treatment was done with nicotine, cadmium, or nicotine-cadmium for 21 days. A fourth group received normal saline for the same duration (control). Average weight was determined at 7-day interval for the acute (D1-D7) and chronic (D7-D21) treatment phases. Similarly, the behavioural tests for exploratory motor function (open field test) and anxiety were evaluated. Serum electrolytes were measured after the chronic phase. Nicotine, cadmium, and nicotinecadmium treatments caused no significant change in body weight after the acute phase while cadmium-nicotine and cadmium caused a decline in weight after the chronic phase. This suggests the role of cadmium in the weight loss observed in tobacco smoke users. Both nicotine and cadmium raised serum Ca 2+ concentration and had no significant effect on K + ionwhencomparedwith the control. In addition, nicotine-cadmium treatment increased bioaccumulation of Cd 2+ in the serum which corresponded to a decrease in body weight, motor function, and an increase in anxiety

Basic Principles of Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is a basic requirement in cell biology , molecular biology and biotechnology . Advancements over the years has helped scientist to trace molecules in live cells and understand the basis of cell metabolism, exchange, mutation and to xicity. In this short communication we seek to explain in simple terms the basic principles of how a fluorescence microscope works. The principles o f excitation and emission focuses on the ability of f luorophores to absorb energy from photons and to emit such absorbed energy. The difference between t he chemical structures of these fluorephores determines how much energy that is required to exci te them and how long a fluorescence signal from a fluorophore will last. The principles of epi-illumi nation on the other hand describe the arrangement a nd function of the various components of a fluorescenc e microscope

Light microscopic detection of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro through Pf histidine rich protein 2 (HRP 2) gold conjugate labeling: Rapid diagnosis of cerebral malaria in humans

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) has been found to be the deadliest of all the known species of the parasite capable of infecting humans; this is because it is capable of causing severe cerebral tissue damage. This study was carried out to demonstrate the parasite in the host blood in vitro through immunogold labeling using antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 (HRP 2); a major metabolite released during the cause of the parasite infection and feeding in the erythrocyte. 12 known Pf positive samples were obtained from across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and were further characterized by Geimsa thick and thin film for parasite identification parasite count expressed as parasites/l of blood. An average of 400 parasites/l of blood was obtained in each of the samples used for this study. Pf-HRP 2 antibody was conjugated to freshly prepared colloidal gold of particle size 40nm. The conjugation process was blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the conjugate itself preserved by 1% glycerol and 0.01% sodium azide. The parasite count was titrated against the Pf-HRP 2gold conjugate and was analyzed under the light microscope with a fluorescent filter. Reactivity and specificity of Pf-HRP 2 gold conjugate was found to be highly specific and gave direct identification of the erythrocytes infected with the parasite. A good contrast was also obtained between uninfected erythrocytes, parasite and the infected erythrocytes

P53, Bax and Cathepsin D Dysregulation in Neurons Subjected to Cyanide Toxicity and Oxygen Deprivation

Cyanide is a potent neurotoxin capable of potentiation NMDA R1 (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1) a form of glutamate receptor that is calcium gated, thus causing excitotoxicity. It is also well established that the glutamate-glucose exchange is dependent on the activity of the Na + /K + ATPase pump, thus we examine the role of the Na + /K + pump in the metabolism of the neuron during cyanide toxicity. Six separate perfusion set up of the rat brain cortical tissues were made with ACSF (ACSF, ACSF+KCN, ACSF+KCN + pump blocker, ACSF + pump blocker). The tissues were perfused for duration of 180 minutes. The tissues were processed immunohistochemically using antibodies against p53,Bax and Cathepsin D (CD) to demonstrate disregulation of cell cycle proteins associated with the induced DNAbreakage as a result of cyanide toxicity. The pumpblockers (methyldigoxin and promethazine) induced excitotoxicity when used in culture, and amplified cyanide toxicity when combined with KCN. Cell death induced by toxicity of cyanide and the blockade of the Na/K ATPasepump has been seen to be complimentary in driving the toxicity effects that drives the cell into apoptosis.The tumor suppressor/apoptosis inducing factors p53 and Bax were over expressed while cathepsin was suppressed to show that the cells are apoptotic as against an increased cathepsin D level that would have implied senescence

Retarded hippocampal development following prenatal exposure to ethanolic leaves extract of Datura metel in wistar rats

Background: Datura metel contains atropine alkaloids and has been used to treat complication like asthma and, bronchitis, because of its anticholinergic properties. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prenatal effects of ethanolic extract of D. metel leaves exposure on the development of hippocampus. Materials and Methods: Twenty rats (12 females and 8 males) were purchased. The females were grouped into four groups (A_D). Group A were given 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract on the first day of fertilization to the end of gestation period, Group B were given 500 mg/kg body weight on the 8 th day of fertilization to the end of gestation period, Group C were given 500 mg/kg body weight on 15 th day of fertilization to the end of gestation period and Group D were given normal saline throughout the gestation period. Results: Rats in Group A showed no implantation, rats in Group B had abortion on the 7 th day after administration, and rats in Group C gave birth with their litters showing retarded hippocampus development and neural degeneration and rats in Group D (control) showed normal development. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of D. metel leaf is teratogenic in the late stage of pregnancy, is abortificient and can serve as a contraceptive

Effect of Essential Oils from Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizomes on Some Inflammatory Biomarkers in Cadmium Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

Studies have revealed that anti-inflammatory agents could provide beneficial effect in lowering the incidence/progression of neurological diseases. Hence, this study sought to investigate the effect of essential oils from Nigeria ginger and turmeric rhizomes on some cytokines in cadmium induced neurotoxicity. The result revealed that essential oil from ginger and turmeric rhizomes exerts anti-inflammatory effect by preventing alterations of some cytokines/inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-Alpha) levels and inhibits both hippocampus and prefrontal cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities (important enzymes relevant in the management/prevention of neurodegenerative diseases) in Cd treated rats. In conclusion, essential oil from ginger and turmeric rhizomes exerts anti-inflammatory properties in Cd induced neurotoxicity. The observed effect could be due to the volatile compounds as revealed by GC-MS analysis

The Cytoarchitectural alterations in the neocortex of Wistar rats: Effects of aqueous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves extract exposure Adeniyi

This study investigated the effects of corresponding 11.7 mg/kg body weight and 5.8 mg/kg body weight/day of the tobacco leaves aqueous extract for a period of 20 days on the functions of rats’ brain after extract administration. Nicotiana tabacum is the scientific name of the tobacco plant grown in several countries of the world. It has been used in variables ways such as smoking, snuffing, even chewing, etc. 24 young rats of both sexes were used. They were divided into 3 groups, A, B, C of 8 rats each (Female (n = 4) and male (n = 4)). Group A were given 11.7 mg of the extract per kg body weight, group B 5.8 mg of the extract per kg body weight in 0.5 ml of distilled water per day throughout the 20 experimental days while group C were given equal volume (0.5 ml) of distilled water as well. The rats were sacrificed at day 21 by cervical dislocation and the brains were excised and fixed in formol calcium for 4 days and processed using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method and Cresyl Fast Violet (CFV) staining technique. There was a statistical significant decrease in the body weight, brain weight and relative brain weight between groups A and B compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.05). There was enlargement of the somata in the group A administered with 11.7 mg/kg B.Wt per day of the extract while those in group B appeared more spindle compared to those cells in group C. Also, the non – homogenous appearance of myelinated neocortex of the neuropil appear clearly in the treated groups compared to control (Figure 3). Therefore, the results suggested that the consumption of the aqueous extract of N. tabacum leaves may alter the normal functions of the brain which may lead to brain dysfunction, despite its “pleasant” effects and also help in reduction in weight gain.Key words: Nicotiana tabacum, cerebrum, frontal lobe, cytoarchitecture, neocortex