Effects of Dietary Protein-Energy Malnutrition on the Testes of Japanese Quails ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) Exposed To Carbendazim

This study was aimed at observing the effects of protein-energy malnutrition on the morphometrical, histological and hormonal changes associated with the testicular toxicity of Carbendazim (methyl 2-benzimidazole carbamate) in the adult male Japanese quail. Carbendazim was administered at a single dose of 400 mg/kg by gastric lavage to quails fed either normal protein-energy or low protein-energy diets. The birds were monitored for eight days post-administration. Significant decreases in the relative weight of the testis (p<0.05) were observed in the Carbendazim-treated groups, irrespective of their dietary protein-energy status, compared to the Normal Protein-energy diet-Oil-treated (control) group. There were similarly significant decreases in the plasma testosterone levels (p<0.05) of Normal Protein-energy diet-Carbendazim- and Low Protein-energy diet-Carbendazim- treated groups compared to the Normal Protein-energy diet-Oil-treated (control) group. Histopathology of the testes of the Carbendazim-treated groups revealed germinal epithelial sloughing and occlusion of tubular lumen by immature germinal cells, the severity of the lesions were relatively higher in the Low Protein-energy diet-Carbendazim-treated group. Protein-energy malnutrition aggravated the reproductive toxicity of the male Japanese quail exposed to Carbendazim

Impact of cAMP on the T-cell response to type II collagen.

There is considerable interest in the possible use of cAMP-elevating agents in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different cAMP-elevating agents on the T-cell response to type II collagen within the context of collagen-induced arthritis, a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Spleen cells or lymph node cells from type-II-collagen-immunized DBA/1 mice were cultured in the presence of type II collagen plus one of five different cAMP-elevating agents: rolipram, forskolin, prostaglandin E2, 8-bromo-cAMP, or cholera toxin. Levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 were measured in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All of the cAMP-elevating agents tested were found to profoundly suppress IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner. IL-4 and IL-5 production was slightly up-regulated at low concentrations of the cAMP-elevating agents and was modestly suppressed at the highest concentrations of cAMP-elevating agents. Experiments were then carried out to determine whether T cells were directly affected by cAMP-elevating agents or whether the immunomodulatory effects were mediated via antigen-presenting cells. Pulsing T cells alone for a brief period with cholera toxin produced an almost identical effect to pulsing antigen-presenting cells alone, i.e. down-regulation of proliferation, down-regulation of IFN-gamma production with little effect on IL-5 production. It was concluded that cAMP-elevating agents suppressed T helper type 1 responses to type II collagen to a greater extent than T helper type 2 responses. The cAMP-elevating agents could directly influence the activity of T cells but, in addition, influenced the ability of antigen-presenting cells to support T helper type 1 responses

Mycobacteria precipitate SLE-like syndrome in diabetes prone NOD mice

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop organ-specific autoimmunity and are widely used as a model for diabetes. Aged NOD mice also exhibit some features of non-organspecific autoimmune rheumatic disease such as anti-nuclear antibodies and late-onset haemolytic anaemia. Here, we report that a single dose of 2-6 x 107 heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) i.v. in 8-week-old NOD mice prevented diabetes but precipitated a syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Treated mice developed haemolytic anaemia, anti-DNA and\ud anti-Sm anti-nuclear autoantibodies and an increased severity of sialadenitis. Perivascular lymphocytic\ud infiltration in the kidneys and glomerular immune complex deposition were also found. The action of BCG appeared to be mediated by an adjuvant-like activity as treated mice showed a substantial increase in reticuloendothelial cell function and enhanced antigen presentation capacity

Effects of Sub-Acute Exposure to Rhodium (as Rh (III) chloride hydrate) on Cytokines in Female Wistar Rats

Quantitative changes in different cytokines were determined in serum of female Wistar rats exposed to Rhodium (III) chloride hydrate to evaluate its early effects on the immune system. Findings revealed an inhibitory effect of Rh salt since each cytokine, with the exceptions of IL-1\u3b1 and IL-2 levels observed at the highest doses of exposure, was reduced compared to the controls and interestingly, the lowest doses induced the greatest inhibition. This generalized decrease of cytokine levels was not related to a specific cytokine pathway, and may suggest an anti-inflammatory role of Rh salt