Bone adaptation to simultaneous cadmium and diazinon toxicity in adult male rats

Food contamination from natural or anthropogenic sources poses severe risks to health of human and animals. Bone is a metabolically active organ, which can be affected by various toxic substances, such as cadmium (Cd) and diazinon (DZN), leading to disruption in bone metabolic processes. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of simultaneous peroral administration to Cd and DZN on femoral compact bone structure in adult male rats. A total of twenty 1-month-old male Wistar rats were randomized into two experimental groups. In the first group (EG), young males were dosed with a combination of 30 mg CdCl2/L and 40 mg DZN/L in drinking water, for 90 days. Ten 1-month-old males without Cd-DZN intoxication served as a control group (CG). After 90 days of daily peroral exposure, evaluations of femoral bonemacro- and micro-structure were performed in each group. We found no significant differences in body weight, femoral weight, femoral length and cortical bone thickness between both groups (EG and CG). However, rats from the group EG displayed different microstructure in the middle part of the substantia compacta where primary vascular radial bone tissue appeared. In some cases, vascular expansion was so enormous that canals were also present near the periost. On the other hand, they occurred only near endosteal surfaces in rats from the control group. Moreover, a smaller number of primary and secondary osteons was identified in Cd-DZN-exposed rats. This fact signalizes reduced mechanical properties of their bones. Anyway, our results suggest an adaptive response of compact bone tissue to Cd-DZN-induced toxicity in adult male rats in order to prevent osteonecrosis

Caffeine strongly improves motility parameters of turkey spermatozoa with no effect on cell viability

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of caffeine on turkey spermatozoa during in vitro incubation. Experimental samples were prepared by diluting the raw semen with nine different concentrations of caffeine – from 0.078125 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. The individual motility parameters were evaluated by the Computer Assisted Semen Analyser (CASA) system, and the viability of spermatozoa was evaluated using eosin-nigrosin staining. Selected parameters were recorded at six time periods: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h at 5 °C and 41 °C. A significantly higher motility and progressive motility of spermatozoa (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) was detected in the samples containing caffeine ranging from 0.15625 to 7.5 mg/mL as compared to the control sample at 5 °C. At an incubation temperature of 41 °C the positive effect of caffeine on motility parameters was observed only at the beginning of incubation (at times 0 and 1). The tested caffeine concentrations showed no significant effect on the viability of turkey spermatozoa at any time period of incubation. A higher percentage of dead spermatozoa was observed for incubation at 41 °C (from 5.96% to 11.1%) in comparison to 5 °C (from 1.62% to 5.79%). The results suggest that caffeine can be used as a suitable component of turkey semen extenders and has the potential to improve fertility

Czy benzo[a]piren wpływa na rozwój zarodkowy serca?

Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon of well proved toxic effect on animal cells and tissues. We used chicken in ovo developmental model to verify its influence on selected parameters of the heart rhythm and on the antioxidative defense in the heart tissue. We determined that the dose of 1 mg/kg weight of eggs of benzo[a]pyrene strongly activates the glutathione-dependent antioxidative system, but it do not significantly affect the heart conducting system of the chicken embryo. We postulate that further study on the benzo[a]pyrene action during embryonic development of birds is recommended.Benzo[a]piren jest wielopierścieniowym węglowodorem aromatycznym o dobrze znanym toksycznym działaniu na komórki i tkanki zwierząt. Wykorzystaliśmy model rozwoju zarodków kury in ovo do wery-kacji wpływu tej substancji na rytm serca oraz wybrane parametry układu antyoksydacyjnego w mięśniu sercowym. Wykazaliśmy, że dawka 1 mg/kg masy jaj silnie aktywuje zależny od glutationu mechanizm anty-oksydacyjny, ale jak się wydaje nie wpływa znacząco na układ przewodzący serca zarodków kury. Konieczne są dalsze badania wpływu benzo[a]pirenu na rozwój zarodkowy ptaków

The in Vitro Effect of Taurine on Boar Spermatozoa Quality

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of taurine (TAU) supplementation on boar spermatozoa motility, viability, acrosome integrity and morphology. Eighteen boar semen samples were diluted with the Androhep PlusTM extender containing no TAU (control) or supplemented with 1.5 mM, 7 mM, 12.5 mM TAU and cultured at 4 °C for 18 days. Sperm motility was evaluated using the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) system. Furthermore, the samples were fixed and assessed for the occurrence of morphological abnormalities using phase contrast microscopy. Fluorescent dyes SYBR – 14 and propidium iodide were used to determine the sperm viability. Acrosome integrity was examined using PNA – Alexa Fluor 647 and flow cytometry. A gradual decrease of the semen quality was detected in all experimental groups over the course of the study. CASA revealed no selective advantage of TAU supplementation on the spermatozoa motility (p &gt; 0.05). TAU administration showed to be ineffective in preserving spermatozoa viability as well as acrosome integrity as measured by flow cytometry (p &gt; 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, no significant positive effect of TAU was recorded following its administration to the Androhep PlusTM boar semen extender with respect to spermatozoa quality

Taurine Affect the Quality of Stallion Spermatozoa – a Review

Considering that spermatozoa are very sensitive cells, research of conservation media with different natural substances is very important area for many research institutions. Preservation media help to keep fertility ability of spermatozoa after long hours of storage and transport. In order to be able to use suitable natural substances as a conservation medium and successfully implement fertilization of a selected mare is necessary to ensure a thorough evaluation of spermatozoa. One of the most important evaluated parameters of stallion ejaculate quality is sperm concentration, motility and morphology. Commonly used methods for assessment of spermatozoa parameters are CASA system (Computer Assisted Semen Analysis) and mitochondrial toxicity test (MTT). This review summarises effect of taurine on stallion spermatozoa during storage and transport, especially in the development of potential parts conservation mediums

Changes in the microstructure of compact and trabecular bone tissues of mice subchronically exposed to alcohol

Abstract Background Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed neurotoxins by humans. Its negative effect on bone health is known for a long time. However, its impact on qualitative and quantitative 2D characteristics of the compact bone is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in detail the effects of subchronic alcohol exposure on compact and trabecular bone tissues microstructure of laboratory mice using 2D and 3D imaging methods. Ten clinically healthy 12 weeks-old mice (males) were randomly divided into two groups. Animals from experimental group (group E; n = 5) drank a solution composed of 15% ethanol and water (1.7 g 100% ethanol kg−1 b.w. per day) for 8 weeks, while those from control group (group C; n = 5) drank only water. Results Subchronic exposure to alcohol leads to several changes in qualitative 2D characteristics of the compact bone such as the presence of primary vascular radial bone tissue in pars anterior of endosteal border and a higher number of resorption lacunae (five times more) in the middle part of substantia compacta. Morphometrical 2D evaluations of the compact bone showed significantly increased sizes of primary osteons’ vascular canals (p < 0.05) in mice from the experimental group (E group). Sizes of Haversian canals and secondary osteons were not affected by alcohol consumption. In mice from the E group, significantly lower values for relative bone volume and bone mineral density of the compact bone were observed. In the trabecular bone, decreased values for bone volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness and bone surface (p < 0.05) were documented. Conclusions Alcohol decreased not only bone volume and density of the compact bone, but it also reduced trabecular bone volume and leads to trabecular thinning. It caused vasodilation of primary osteons’ vascular canals and increased porosity in the compact bone