Administration of Nicotine Exacerbates the Quinine-induced Structural and Functional Alterations of Testicular Tissue in Adult Rats:An Experimental Study

Purpose: In this study the role of nicotine (NCT) administration on the intensity of rat testicular tissue alterations induced by quinine (QU) was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Control (CON), NCT administrated (4 mg/kg) (NCT), QU treated (25 mg/kg for 7 days) (QU), and nicotine with quinine received (NCT+QU). After 28 days, serum testosterone and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Testes and epididymides samples were prepared for determining tissue MDA levels, histomorphometry, microscopic indices of spermatogenesis, immunohistochemistry of p53 and sperm analysis. Results: Testosterone levels were decreased significantly (P =.0004) in treated groups compared to CON group. Serum MDA levels were increased significantly (P =.0004) in NCT and QU groups compared to CON group. Tissue MDA levels were increased significantly (P =.0012) in NCT+QU group in comparison to CON group. These parameters were changed significantly in NCT+QU group compared to QU group. Seminiferous tubules diameter decreased significantly (P Conclusion: The administration of nicotine could be involved in the exacerbation of testicular tissue alterations related to quinine therapy

Effects of Morus Alba Extract on the Microscopic Changes of Spermatogenesis in Experimentally Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Adult Rats

Diabetic hyperglycemia has a direct association with microscopic changes of testicular tissue and spermatogenic alterations. Most of these changes are mediated with oxidative stress. Use of herbal and chemical glucose lowering drugs is an important way for reduction of diabetes related structural changes of target tissues. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of Morus alba extract on the microscopic structure of testicular tissue following induction of diabetes. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. Morus alba extract and metformin were administrated to various groups for period of 12 weeks. The blood glucose levels, pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone were measured. Histomorphometrical study and sperm analysis were performed for evaluation of the function of reproductive system. Reduction of body weight, pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone levels in diabetic groups, were improved after treatment. Decrease of spermatogenic indices was accompanied with the changes in histomorphology of seminiferous tubules. Moreover, the sperm analysis results were decreased in diabetic rats. These microscopic changes were enhanced after treatment in diabetic groups. The results of this study indicate that the administration of glucose lowering medical herbs only or in combination with chemical drugs, can preserve the positive effects in improvement of spermatogenic alterations related to diabetes. [Med-Science 2014; 3(3.000): 1491-506

A recombinant Aspergillus oryzae fungus transmitted from larvae to adults of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes inhibits malaria parasite oocyst development

Abstract The control of malaria parasite transmission from mosquitoes to humans is hampered by decreasing efficacies of insecticides, development of drug resistance against the last-resort antimalarials, and the absence of effective vaccines. Herein, the anti-plasmodial transmission blocking activity of a recombinant Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae-R) fungus strain, which is used in human food industry, was investigated in laboratory-reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. The recombinant fungus strain was genetically modified to secrete two anti-plasmodial effector peptides, MP2 (midgut peptide 2) and EPIP (enolase-plasminogen interaction peptide) peptides. The transstadial transmission of the fungus from larvae to adult mosquitoes was confirmed following inoculation of A. oryzae-R in the water trays used for larval rearing. Secretion of the anti-plasmodial effector peptides inside the mosquito midguts inhibited oocyst formation of P. berghei parasites. These results indicate that A. oryzae can be used as a paratransgenesis model carrying effector proteins to inhibit malaria parasite development in An. stephensi. Further studies are needed to determine if this recombinant fungus can be adapted under natural conditions, with a minimal or no impact on the environment, to target mosquito-borne infectious disease agents inside their vectors