Effects of lead acetate on testicular function and caspase-3 expression with respect to the protective effect of cinnamon in albino rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of cinnamon on lead acetate induced reproductive toxicities in rats. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 8 rats in each. Control rats received distilled water, while treated rats received lead acetate (30 mg/kg), cinnamon (250 mg/kg) and lead acetate and cinnamon (30 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg) for 60 days by gavage tube. In cinnamon treated rats, the relative weights of testes, epididymis, seminal and prostate glands were significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared with that in lead acetate treated rats. Sperm cell concentration and viability were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced, while sperm abnormalities were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in lead treated rats. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in lead acetate treated rats compared to the other groups, while the addition of cinnamon to lead acetate improved the level of SOD compared to the lead treated group. There was a marked reduction (P < 0.001) in the expression of androgen receptor and significant (P < 0.001) increase in the level of caspase-3 protein expression in the testis of lead treated rats. In conclusion, cinnamon exhibited protective effect on reproductive system by inhibiting lead acetate induced oxidative stress and excessive cell apoptosis

Amelioratory Effect of Vitamin D3 on some Liver Function and Histological Alterations in Experimentally Obese Albino Rats

Obesity is a global public health issue. It is associated with a spectrum of liver abnormalities, like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Vitamin D3 on light microscopic changes in the liver, as well as hematology and some liver enzymes in experimentally overweight albino rats. Five groups of thirty-five male albino rats were formed. For three months, Control (C) group received a standard laboratory diet. Corn oil (CO) group received normal balanced diet and given orally 20 mg/kg corn oil daily. Vitamin D (D) group received normal balanced diet and orally treated daily with 5000 IU/kg of vitamin D3. Overweight (OW) group rats received high caloric diet. Overweight/ vitamin D (OWD) group received high caloric diet and treated with oral vitamin D3 5000 IU/kg daily. Liver weights of animals were recorded, blood samples for hematology, some liver functions, catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were collected. Liver samples were fixed in 10% formal saline then stained by H&amp;E for histological examination. OW group had significantly higher liver weights, and liver function than CO group. Histologically, there was an increase of fatty degeneration in the OW group. However, OWD group was lower in all the measured and examined liver parameters than that of CO group in this study vitamin D3 supplement could ameliorate the abnormal changes in the hepatocytes induced by obesity

Green tea extract attenuates CCl4-induced hepatic injury in male hamsters via inhibition of lipid peroxidation and p53-mediated apoptosis

Keeping in mind the beneficial effects of GTE administration on liver damage, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of green tea extract (GTE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injuries in male hamsters for 8 weeks. Twenty hamsters were equally divided into 4 groups, the control ones (group I) received only dis. water. Hamsters of group II had free access to 10% of GTE, while hamsters of group III received 1 ml/kg of 50% CCl4 in corn oil via gavage daily. Hamsters of group IV (GTE + CCl4) received a free access to GTE supplementation in combination with 1 ml/kg of 50% CCl4 in corn oil via gavage daily. Lipid profile, hepatic enzyme levels and apoptosis molecular marker (p53) were investigated in hamsters. GTE + CCl4 treated hamsters showed lower levels of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) than CCl4 exposed hamsters. Hepatic activity levels of GSH, ALD and cytochrome 450 reductase were declined after CCl4 administration while they were remarkably improved with GTE administration. Serum lipid profiles as T-cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were improved in GTE and CCl4 treated hamsters than CCl4 group. Moreover, hepatic tissue damage and p53 expression induced with CCl4 were improved with the treatment of GTE. These results suggested that GTE possesses hepatoprotective properties against the effect of CCl4

High-Fat Diet Induced Perturbation in Physiological Parameters in Females Albino Rat

A high-fat diet (HFD) is characterized by an excessive intake of dietary fats, while often being deficient in essential nutrients and fiber. Studies in animal models have consistently demonstrated that high-fat diets can lead to significant elevation of weight gain, body organs and biochemical parameters. The present research aimed to clarify the adverse physiological consequences of HFD on female rats. The present study was performed on 12 female rats that were divided to equal groups. Group I fed normal basal diet and group II fed HFD for 12 months. The body weight and gain, relative organs weight as well as abdominal fat mass were recorded. Hematological parameters, lipid profile, liver and kidney functions and Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) were determined. Also, histopathology for liver, kidney and heart were performed. Electrocardiography (ECG) was performed. The body weight, weight gain, relative organs weight and abdominal fat mass were significantly increased in group II than group I. Hematological parameters, lipid profile, liver and kidney functions, H-FABP and ECG as well as histopathology were deteriorated in group II than group I. The findings revealed that prolonged consumption of a high-fat diet resulted in significant physiological perturbations. Understanding the intricate interactions between high-fat diets, body weight, body organs and biochemical parameters is essential for devising effective prevention and treatment strategies for obesity and related metabolic disorders

Biochemical, Histological and Ultrastructural Studies on the Effect of Citric acid Supplementation on Aflatoxins-intoxicated Japanese Quail

For poultry farmers and quails producers’, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with natural diet contaminants like mycotoxins. Worldwide, mycotoxins are present in all feed sources, primarily in corn, and they significantly reduce the health, immune function, and performance of birds. For this purpose, the effect of citric acid (CA) supplement on contaminated diet with Aflatoxins (AFL) in the liver biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural studies of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix). Influences of experimental diets were assessed in 3 replications of 6 birds each (n = 18 per treatment). Quails two weeks old were assigned into 4 equal groups. The control quails fed only basal diet, AFL group quails were given basal diet contaminated with 2.5 mg AFL/kg diet, citric group quails fed basal diet with 10 g citric acid/Kg, and AFL/citric group quails fed basal diet contaminated with 2.5 mg AFL /Kg and augmented with 10 g/Kg citric acid. After four weeks, feeding AFL to quails induced hepatotoxicity as evidenced by significant decline in body weight, serum albumin and total protein while it significantly increased serum ALT, and AST activities. AFL also induces liver oxidative stress by the elevation of lipid peroxidation and reducing GPx, ADH, SOD and catalase activities. Descriptive hepatic histological and ultrastructural alteration were also noted in the AFL group. Treatment with CA induced an increase in total protein, albumin, SOD, GPx, ADH and significantly decreased ALT and AST activities and MDA level. Moreover, it also improved the histological and ultrastructure alternations induced in the liver of AFL group. It was concluded that supplementation of CA into the AFL polluted diets lessened the adverse influences of AFL on quail’s liver

The Reno and Hepatoprotective Effects of SAMWA Plant (Cleome droserifolia) Methanolic Extract against Adrenaline-Induced Adverse Effect to Male Rats

Adrenaline is widely used drug to combat several conditions such as allergy and anaphylaxis. The current work was to investigate the renal and hepatic complications following adrenaline injection, in addition, the impact of Cleome (SAMWA) methanolic extract on adrenaline- induced renal and hepatic alterations. Twenty-four male Wister rats were divided equally into four groups; Normal control group received oral distilled water for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous saline on the 31st and 32nd days. The Cleome extract (200 mg/kg) group received Cleome methanolic extract (200 mg/kg, P.O) for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous saline on the 31st and 32nd days. The adrenaline group received distilled water orally for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) divided into two doses (1 mg/kg, s.c) each on the 31st and 32nd days. Cleome extract (200 mg/kg)/ adrenaline received Cleome methanolic extract (200 mg/kg, P. O) for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) divided into two doses (1 mg/kg, s.c) each on the 31st and 32nd days. Liver and kidney function biomarkers in addition to histopathological analyses were evaluated. Adrenaline caused alteration in liver and kidney function biomarkers without affecting the histological structure of the liver and the kidney. SAMWA methanolic extract pretreatment significantly decreased serum urea, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). SAMWA ameliorated serum albumin reduction and total protein induced by adrenaline injection. SAMWA methanolic extract could protect liver and kidney of rats exposed to adrenaline

Dietary soy isoflavones during pregnancy suppressed the immune function in male offspring albino rats

Phytoestrogens have an impact on both animals and humans due to use of legumes in animal diets as well as the increase of vegetarian diets in some human populations. Phytoestrogens thought to have varieties of adverse effects, among which immune system was involved. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal exposure to dietary soy isoflavones on some immunological parameters in male albino rat offspring. The pregnant rats were divided to three groups (12/group). Control group (free soy isoflavones), low soy isoflavones group (6.5%) and high soy isoflavones group (26%). The male offspring cell-mediated immune response was determined using phytohemagglutinin (PHA) injection and the intumesce index which was calculated on postnatal day 50 (PND 50). At PND 50, blood samples were collected for interleukin 12 (IL-12), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) determination. Spleen, thymus, and PHA injected footpads were fixed for histopathology. Intumesce index, IL-12, IFN-γ, spleen and thymus relative weights were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in offspring born to dams fed low and high dietary soy isoflavones. In contrary, TNF-α was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in offspring born to dams fed high dietary soy isoflavones. Spleen of rats born to dams fed high dose of dietary soy isoflavones showed coagulative necrosis in white pulp. In conclusion, male offspring born to dams fed different levels of soy isoflavones showed marked immunosuppression after PHA stimulation. This effect was mediated through the reduced IFN-γ that interacts with the IL-12 production pathway. Keywords: Isoflavones, Pregnancy, Immunological responses, Rat