Age-related changes in the testicular and epididymal sperm parameters in the African greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, temminck, 1827)

This study investigated age-related changes in the testicular and epididymal sperm characteristics and spermiogram profiles in fifteen African greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) of different age-groups; pubertal: 5 – 11 months, adult: 12 – 30 months and aged: > 30 months, obtained from commercial cane rat farm, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. Following a ventral abdominal incision of anaesthetisized cane rats, testes and epididymides were exteriorized for the determination of spermatozoa morphology, motility, concentration, live-dead ratio and morphometry. Spermatozoa head from pubertal cane rat onwards were ovoid in shape and lack visible acrosomal hook. From pubertal to aged cane rat, percentage abnormal sperm cell was not significantly different (p>0.05). Sperm morphometric parameters (sperm length and width or diameter, midpiece length, tail length and complete spermatozoa length) were not significantly (p>0.05) different with age. There was consistent remarkable increased epididymal sperm motility in the adult cane rat relative to other groups. Testicular and epididymal sperm counts were markedly elevated in the adult relative to other age groups. However, both the testicular and epididymal spermatozoa live-dead ratio were not significantly different (p>0.05) from pubertal to aged cane rat. This study has demonstrated that sperm motility and concentration were remarkably elevated in adult cane rat. Therefore, cane rat breeders are advised to utilize adult rat in breeding.Keywords: Sperm characteristics, Spermiogram, Testis, Epididymis, Cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianu

Arterial blood pressure changes in acute T. brucei infection of dogs

The aim of this study is to find out the usefulness of serial arterial blood pressure measurements in predicting severity and outcome of acute Trypanosoma brucei infection in dogs. Twenty adult dogs of mixed sexes and aged between 2 and 5 years were used for this study. The dogs were of good cardiac health and were divided into two groups of infected and uninfected. The infected groups were inoculated with 1×106 of PBS lafenwa strain of T. brucei intraperitoneally. The systolic arterial pressure (SAP), Diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure  (MAP) were recorded before and serially at days eight, sixteen and twenty four post infection. The SAP of control dogs (119.62±3.77) was not different from the SAP on days 8(118.83±0.75), 16(120.33 ± 4.04) and 24(123.14±6.84).The DAP of the infected dogs on day8 (52.87±7.90), day 16(56.00±8.54) and day24  (48.42±7.97) is not different from the control value of 52.87±7.90. The MAP of the infected dogs on day 8 (77.00±1.41), day 16(72.66±2.88) and day24 (73.51± 3.53) is not significantly different from the control value of 76.00±6.80. A value of two standard deviation below the control mean was defined as hypotension and therefore a SAP<112mmhg, DAP <36mmhg, and MAP <62mmhg was regarded as cutoff point for hypotension in the breed of dog studied. All the control and the infected dogs were therefore not considered hypotensive. The result of the present study has shown that acute T .brucei infection does not alter the blood pressure of infected dogs and arterial blood pressure does not predict severity and outcome of the infection

Chronic exposure of adult male Wistar rats to bisphenol A causes testicular oxidative stress: Role of gallic acid

Objectives. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been reported that among other male reproductive dys-functions, it can cause marked estrogenic effects including alteration in serum hormones as well as testicular lesions in exposed animals. This work sought to study the role of gallic acid (GA), a known antioxidant, on the BPA-induced testicular oxidative stress in adult male Wistar rats using serum hormone analysis, histopathology, and biochemical assays