Aluminum-induced testosterone decrease results in physiological and behavioral changes in male mice

Recently, there has been much controversy on the role of testosterone on social and aggression behaviors. This work aimed to determine the effect of testosterone decrease, induced by aluminum exposure on the level of aggression. Male Swiss-Webster strain mice were classified into three groups. The first (control group) received distilled water, while the second and third groups were administrated 300 and 600 mg/kg aluminum chloride, respectively, by oral route for 20 days. Thereafter, they were subjected to “standard opponent” test. A significant decrease in testosterone levels in the treated groups was obtained at both the low and high doses of aluminum. Expectedly, significant decreases were observed in the social contacts, threat, attack and number of fights of both treated groups in a dose dependant manner. All blood parameters revealed a dose dependent significant decrease as well. A significant decrease in both serotonin and dopamine levels was simultaneously obtained with the decrease of testosterone level especially at the high dose of aluminum. In contrast, at the high dose, acetylcholine recorded significantly high value. In conclusion, aluminum-induced testosterone decrease resulted in a significant decline in aggression, several blood parameters and levels of neurotransmitters.Keywords: Aluminum, Swiss-Webster mice, standard opponent test, social behavior, testosteron

Protective Effect of Parsley Juice ( Petroselinum crispum

Parsley was used as a probe of the current experiment to prevent the behavioral, morphological and biochemical changes in the newborn brain following the administration of cadmium (Cd) to the pregnant mice. The nonanesthetized pregnant mice were given daily parsley juice (Petroselinum crispum) at doses of 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg. Pregnant mothers were given Cd at a dose of 30 mg/kg divided into 3 equal times. The newborns have been divided into 6 groups: Group A, mothers did not take treatment; Groups B and C, mothers were treated with low and high dose of parsley, respectively; Group D, mothers were treated only with Cd (perinatal intoxication); Groups E and F, mothers were treated with Cd doses and protected by low and high doses of parsley, respectively. Light microscopy showed that Cd-induced neuronal degeneration by chromatolysis and pyknosis in the brain regions. The low dose of parsley 10 g/kg/day exhibited significant effects in neutralizing and reducing the deleterious changes due to Cd exposure during pregnancy on the behavioral activities, neurotransmitters, oxidative stress, and brain neurons morphology of the mice newborns

The Effects of Quinacrine, Proglumide, and Pentoxifylline on Seizure Activity, Cognitive Deficit, and Oxidative Stress in Rat Lithium-Pilocarpine Model of Status Epilepticus

The present data indicate that status epilepticus (SE) induced in adult rats is associated with cognitive dysfunctions and cerebral oxidative stress (OS). This has been demonstrated using lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pc) model of SE. OS occurring in hippocampus and striatum of mature brain following SE is apparently due to both the increased free radicals production and the limited antioxidant defense. Pronounced alterations were noticed in the enzymatic, glutathione-S transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as in the nonenzymatic; thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GST), indices of OS in the hippocampus and striatum of SE induced animals. Quinacrine (Qcn), proglumide (Pgm), and pentoxifylline (Ptx) administered to animals before inducing SE, were significantly effective in ameliorating the seizure activities, cognitive dysfunctions, and cerebral OS. The findings suggest that all the drugs were effective in the order of Ptx < Pgm < Qcn indicating that these drugs are potentially antiepileptic as well as antioxidant; however, further studies are needed to establish this fact. It can be assumed that these antiepileptic substances with antioxidant properties combined with conventional therapies might provide a beneficial effect in treatment of epilepsy through ameliorating the cerebral OS

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Stress Effects of Oryzanol in Glaucomatous Rabbits

Purpose. γ-Oryzanol works by anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging activity as a neuroprotective, anticancer, antiulcer, and immunosuppressive agent. The present study was conducted to investigate effect of oryzanol in acute and chronic experimental glaucoma in rabbits. Methods. Effect of oryzanol was evaluated in 5% dextrose induced acute model of ocular hypertension in rabbit eye. Chronic model of glaucoma was induced with subconjunctival injection of 5% of 0.3 ml phenol. Treatment with oryzanol was given for next two weeks after induction of glaucoma. From anterior chamber of rabbit eye aqueous humor was collected to assess various oxidative stress parameters like malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, nitric oxide, and inflammatory parameters like TNF-α and IL-6. Structural damage in eye was examined by histopathological studies. Results. In acute model of ocular hypertension oryzanol did not alter raised intraocular pressure. In chronic model of glaucoma oryzanol exhibited significant reduction in oxidative stress followed by reduction in intraocular pressure. Oryzanol treatment reduced level of TNF-α and IL-6. Histopathological studies revealed decreased structural damage of trabecular meshwork, lamina cribrosa, and retina with oryzanol treatment. Conclusions. Oryzanol showed protective effect against glaucoma by its antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory property. Treatment with oryzanol can reduce optic nerve damage

Insight into the effects of H2SO4 and HNO3 acidification processes on the properties of coal as an enhanced adsorbent for ciprofloxacin residuals: Steric and energetic studies

A sub-bituminous natural coal sample (R.C) was treated with sulfuric acid (S.C) and nitric acid (N.C) as modified products and enhanced adsorbents for obtaining ciprofloxacin (CFX) antibiotic residuals from water. The characterization studied demonstrates enhancement in the surface area and the incorporation of new active oxygenated, sulfur-bearing, and nitrogen-bearing chemical groups into the structure of coal samples. This was reflected in the adsorption capacities that were enhanced from 164.08 mg/g (R.C) to 489.2 mg/g and 518.5 mg/g for N.C and S.C, respectively. The impact of the acid modification processes was evaluated based on the energetic and steric properties of their adsorption systems considering the parameters of the advanced monolayer equilibrium model with one energy site. The determined occupied active sites’ density of R.C (46.32–61.44 mg/g), N.C (168.7–364.9 mg/g), and S.C (159.2–249.9 mg/g) reflects an increase in the quantities of active centers after the acid treatment processes, especially with HNO3. The higher efficiencies of the active sites of S.C to adsorb more CFX molecules (n = 2.08–2.31) than N.C (n = 1.41–2.16) illustrate its higher adsorption capacity. The energetic investigation [adsorption (˂40 kJ/mol) and Gaussian (˂8 kJ/mol) energies] suggested adsorption of CFX by N.C and S.C mainly by physical processes such as van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, dipole bonding, and π–π interactions. Moreover, the determined thermodynamic functions including entropy, internal energy, and free enthalpy reflect the spontaneous and endothermic uptake of CFX on the surfaces of N.C and S.C

Effects of the perinatal exposure of Gum Arabic on the development, behavior and biochemical parameters of mice offspring

The effects of the perinatal oral exposure to Gum Arabic (GA) on mice offspring was examined. GA was added to the drinking water of pregnant female Swiss–Webster strain mice at doses of 1 and 4 g/kg body weight, starting from the first day of pregnancy. The treatment continued until the fifteenth day after delivery, after which mothers were switched to plain tap water. A number of tests were carried out on offspring starting one day after birth and extending up to postnatal day 30 (PD30). Pups showed a reduced gain of body weight and delayed opening of the eyes in comparison to the control group and only pups exposed to 1 g/kg body weight GA had a faster appearance of hair. Sensory motor reflex tests carried out during the weaning period (from day of birth to PD21) showed enhanced motor reflexes in pups exposed to GA. During the adolescent period (from PD22 to PD30), offspring showed dose-dependent enhanced motor activity (on PD22), reduced anxiety and fear (on PD27) and slightly enhanced memory and learning abilities (on PD30). Biochemical tests of a number of blood parameters were conducted during and after the weaning period (on PD15 and PD30, respectively). Our results indicated that GA might have a hypoglycemic and a beneficial effect on red and white blood cell counts. This study gives a first insight on the effect of GA consumption on offspring, providing a starting point for further studies. Keywords: Perinatal exposure, Gum Arabic, Offspring, Mice, Behavior, Developmen