Assessment of imidacloprid toxicity on reproductive organ system of adult male rats

In the current study it was aimed to investigate the toxicity of low doses of imidacloprid (IMI) on the reproductive organ systems of adult male rats. The treatment groups received 0.5 (IMI-0.5), 2 (IMI-2) or 8 mg IMI/kg body weight by oral gavage (IMI-8) for three months. The deterioration in sperm motility in IMI-8 group and epidydimal sperm concentration in IMI-2 and IMI-8 groups and abnormality in sperm morphology in IMI-8 were significant. The levels of testosterone (T) and GSH decreased significantly in group IMI-8 compared to the control group. Upon treatment with IMI, apoptotic index increased significantly only in germ cells of the seminiferous tubules of IMI-8 group when compared to control. Fragmentation was striking in the seminal DNA from the IMI-8 group, but it was much less obvious in the IMI-2 one. IMI exposure resulted in elevation of all fatty acids analyzed, but the increases were significant only in stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The ratios of 20:4/20:3 and 20:4/18:2 were decreased and 16:1n-9/16:0 ratio was increased. In conclusion, the present animal experiments revealed that the treatment with IMI at NOAEL dose-levels caused deterioration in sperm parameters, decreased T level, increased apoptosis of germ cells, seminal DNA fragmentation, the depletion of antioxidants and change in disturbance of fatty acid composition. All these changes indicate the suppression of testicular function

Effects of exogenous amylase in transition dairy cows fed low- starch diets: 1. Lactation performance

The objective of this trial was to determine the effect of exogenous amylase during the transition period in dairy cows on dry matter intake and lactation performance. The effect of exogenous amylase supplementation on lactation diets with low starch concentration (19.5% of dry matter) and dry period diets with moderate starch concentration (15.5% of dry matter) was evaluated. A total of 30 multiparus Holstein cows were randomly assigned to two groups fed diets with (n=15) or without amylase (n=15). Treatments were granular amylase (0.5 g of Ronozyme RumiStar per kg of total mixed ration dry matter) or control. The research was conducted starting at 21 d prepartum until 84 d postpartum. Starch and neutral detergent fiber concentrations averaged 15.5±0.5% and 15.7±0.9%, 42.6±1.1% and 43.4±1.2% in close up diets and 19.8±2.9% and 19.4±0.5%, 33.6±0.8% and 34.2±0.6% in lactation diets for control and amylase, respectively. Dry matter intake, milk yield and composition were evaluated for differences between treatments. Postpartum intakes of dry matter (DMI) and organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), and starch intake were unaffected by treatment. Milk yield was not influenced by treatment, but numerically greater by 2.0 kg/d for cows fed amylase compared with control diet. The percentages of milk fat, protein and lactose were not impressed by treatment, however fat-, solid-, and energy-corrected milk were 2 kg/d greater for cows fed amylase diet than for cows fed control diet. Fat-, solid-, and energy-corrected milk feed conversions (kg/kg DMI) were 5 to 6% greater for cows fed amylase diet than for cows fed control diet (P<0.01). It was concluded that inclusion of amylase improved the feed efficiency of lactating cows fed a low starch diet, may offer for potential to increase milk yield; but the enzyme did not affect DMI. © 2019, Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. All rights reserved.-2013/2Partial funding was provided by DSM Nutritional Products (Basel, Switzerland) and Research Fund of Bursa Uludag University (OUAP(V)-2013/2)

Comparative evaluation of the sexual functions and NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways of some aphrodisiac herbal extracts in male rats

Background: Mucuna pruriens, Tribulus terrestris and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are widely known as antioxidant effective herbals and have been reported to possess aphrodisiac activities in traditional usages. In this study, we determined the effects of these herbals on sexual functions, serum biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and levels of NF-κB, Nrf2, and HO-1 in reproductive tissues. Methods: Thirty-five male rats were divided into five groups: the control group, sildenafil-treated group (5 mg/kg/d), Mucuna, Tribulus and Ashwagandha groups. The extract groups were treated orally either with Mucuna, Tribulus or Ashwagandha (300 mg/kg b.w.) for 8 weeks. Results: All of the extracts were found to be significantly effective in sexual functioning and antioxidant capacity and Tribulus showed the highest effectiveness. Serum testosterone levels significantly increased in Tribulus and Ashwagandha groups in comparison to control group. Tribulus was able to reduce the levels of NF-κB and increase the levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 to a much greater extent than Mucuna and Ashwagandha. Conclusions: These results demonstrate for the first time that Mucuna, Tribulus and Ashwagandha supplementation improves sexual function in male rats via activating Nrf2/ HO-1 pathway while inhibiting the NF-κB levels. Moreover, Tribulus terrestris extract was found to be more bioavailable from Ashwagandha extract followed by Mucuna extract