Effects of maternal dexamethasone exposure on hematological indices in the male offspring

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone in threatening preterm delivery leads to high basal corticosterone level in the offspring. Excess  glucocorticoids may inhibit the production of interleukin. This study examined the effects of prenatal and lactational dexamethasone exposure on hematological parameter in male offspring. The rats were divided into 9 groups. Group1 was administered 0.02 ml/100gbw/day normal saline throughout pregnancy. Group 2, 3, 4 and 5 were administered 100 ìg/kgbw/day dexamethasone through gestation day (GD) 1-7, 8-14, 15-21 and 1-21 respectively. Group 6 was administered 0.02 ml/100gbw/day normal saline at Lactational day (LD) 1-21. Group 7, 8 and 9 were  administered 100 ìg/kgbw/day dexamethasone at LD 1-7, 1-14 and 1-21 respectively. The male offspring were sacrificed at 12 weeks of age for the evaluation of hematological indices. Results show that dexamethasone exposure at GD 1-7, 8-14 and 1-21 significantly (P<0.05) reduced PCV, hemoglobin concentration, RBC, platelet and neutrophil differential counts, raised eosinophil differential count relative to control. Exposure to  dexamethasone at LD 1-14 and 1-21 significantly (P<0.05) reduced RBC and platelet counts but it raised MCV and MCH relative to control. This study suggests that prenatal and lactational dexamethasone   administration may affect the hematological indices in the male offspring.Keywords: Dexamethasone, prenatal, lactational, hematological indices, fetal, corticosterone

Antiulcerogenic Effects and Possible Mechanism of Action of Quassia Amara (L. Simaroubaceae) Extract and Its Bioactive Principles in Rats

The effects of Quassia amara extract (Q. amara) and its bioactive principles-quassin and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one on gastric ulceration were studied in albino rats. Q. amara (200-800 mg/kg p.o.; 5-20 mg/kg i.p) and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg p.o; 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg i.p) but not quassin (12.5, 25.0 and 50 mg/kg p.o; 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg i.p) significantly inhibited gastric ulceration induced by indomethacin (40mg/kg). Administration of Q. amara (800 mg/kg p.o and 20 mg/kg i.p) and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one (12.5 mg/kg p.o; 4 mg/kg i.p) caused between 77%-85% cytoprotection against indomethacin (40 mg/kg, i.p) – induced gastric ulceration. Quassin did not cause any significant change in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. The inhibition of gastric ulceration produced by Q. amara and 2-methoxycanthin-6 one was accompanied by significant dosedependentdecreases (P< 0.01) in total gastric acidity. To investigate the probable mechanism of action, the individual effects of the extract and its principles alone and in combination with histamine (1 mg/kg) or cimetidine (0.12 mg/kg) on gastric acid secretion in situ were studied. Q. amara (20 mg/kg) and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one (4 mg/kg) but not quassin significantly (P< 0.01) inhibited the basal and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion. Inhibition of gastric acid secretion by Q. amara and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one was accentuated by cimetidine. The results suggest that Q. amara and its bioactive principle, 2- methoxycanthin-6-one possess antiulcer activity probably acting via histamine H2 receptor. This could be a potential source of potent and effective antiulcer agents.Keywords: Quassia amara; gastric ulceration; gastric acid; quassin; 2-methoxycanthin-6-one; ra

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation alters serum electrolyte and adrenal gland morphology in male offspring of wistar rats

Background: Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during development altered glucocorticoid activity in Wistar rat offspring. Increased glucocorticoid levels may affect serum electrolyte levels and the architecture of the adrenal cortex. This study was designed to investigate the effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on serum electrolytes and structure of the adrenal gland. Methods: Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100g/day normal saline through lactation days 1-21. Group 2, 3 and 4 were administered 100 μg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) at lactation days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21 respectively. The male offspring were sacrificed at 12weeks of age for evaluation of serum electrolytes and architecture of the adrenal gland. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in the serum Sodium and Chloride ion concentration in all the treatment groups when compared with control. Serum Potassium ion concentration was significantly reduced in the Dex1-14(p<0.05) and Dex1-21(p<0.01), when compared with control. The serum calcium level was also significantly increased (p<0.05) in all the treatment groups administered with dexamethasone when compared with control. In addition, histology of the adrenal gland revealed that there was thickening of the capsule. The Zona glomerulosa was not so prominent. There was also a focal area of necrosis in the Zona glomerulosa. Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation may reduce serum potassium ion concentration but increase serum calcium ion concentration

Morphometric variables of offspring of Quassia amara treated male rats

Objective: Quassia amara is a medicinal plant with various pharmacological properties. The bioactive compound quassin is used as flavoring in food and beverages. Reproductive toxicological action of Q. amara is well documented but no information exists on its effect on prenatal programming.Methods: Adult male rats (180-200g, n=5) were treated daily (p.o) with Q. amara extract (100 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. A control group received distilled water. After 5 weeks of treatment, female rats were cohabited with the males for 7 days, at the ratio of 2:1. Mating was confirmed by presence of spermatozoa in all vaginal smear. Morphometric indices of all offspring were recorded on postnatal day one. They were also examined for any sign of abnormality or physical defect.Results: Fertility was zero in four out of the five treated rats. The females that cohabited with the fertile treated male gave birth to pups of varying sizes (6 and 9). However, four of the five control male rats were fertile and the female rats they mated had 9 pups each. No visible physical defect was observed on all offspring. Anogenital distance of the male offspring of the treated rats was significantly shorter than male offspring of the control, while anogenital distance of female offspring showed no statistical difference. Head diameter and body length were also significantly lower in offspring of the treated rats. However, weight, abdominal diameter and sex ratio of offspring were not statistically different.Conclusion: Quassia amara extract caused a reduction in the male anogenital distance, litter size, head diameter and body length of the offspring of treated male rats. Its reproductive toxicity actions may alter the developmental programming and probably transferred from one generation to another.Keywords: Quassia amara, spermatozoa, developmental programming, anogenital distance, endocrine disruptor

Haematological and serum biochemical indices of pre-pubertal male rabbits fed with graded level of blood-wild sunflower forage meal mixture

The effects of feeding graded levels of blood wild sunflower forage meal mixture (BWSFM) on haematological and serum biochemical parameters in rabbit were studied. Thirty-two (32) cross-bred (New Zealand-white X Chinchilla) male weaner rabbits aged between 6 and 9 weeks were randomly divided after weight balancing into four groups of eight rabbits per group and each rabbit served as replicate in a complete randomized design. Four diets were formulated in which diet 1 the control, was containing no BWSFM mixture, while diets 2, 3 and 4 had graded levels of 5, 10 and 15% BWSFM mixture respectively. The rabbits were fed with the experimental diets for 12 weeks. The results showed that though the final weight of the rabbits in the different groups were not significantly affected by the inclusion of the test ingredient, the packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin content (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, as well as the lymphocytes and serum alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the treatments. It was concluded that inclusion of blood/wild sunflower forage meal mixture up to 15% was well tolerated by pre-pubertal male rabbits without any adverse health condition.Keyword: Pre-pubertal, rabbits, packed cell volume, alanine aminotransaminase, blood/wild sunflower forage meal mixtur

Effects of Maternal Dexamethasone Exposure During Lactation on Metabolic Imbalance and Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Male Offsprings of Wistar Rats

Summary: It has been reported in human and animal studies that early exposure to glucocorticoids could retard growth and subsequent development of cardio metabolic diseases. Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids induced oxidative stress. Therefore, the role of oxidative stress in some of the observed metabolic imbalance needs to be elucidated. This study examined the effects of lactational dexamethasone exposure on metabolic imbalance and oxidative stress marker in the liver of male offspring of exposed mother. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100gbwt/day normal saline through lactation days 1-21. Group 2, 3, and 4 were administered 100 μg/kgbwt/day dexamethasone for lactation days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21 respectively. The male offspring were thereafter separated and sacrificed at 12weeks of age for evaluation of lipid profile and oxidative stress marker in the liver. Results from this study indicate that Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TAG) and LDL- cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups when compared with the control. HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in the Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups relative to the control. Basal Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) was also significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups when compared with the control. Liver malondialdehyde was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex1-14 and Dex1-21 group compared to the control. However, liver catalase and SOD activity were all significantly (p<0.001) lower in Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups relative to control. Liver protein was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the Dex1-14 and Dex1-21 treatment groups when compared with the control. Findings from this study suggest that there is possible increase in metabolic imbalance in the offspring of mother exposed to dexamethasone during lactation and these effects may be secondary to increase oxidative stress in the liver.Keywords: Dexamethasone; Lactation; Oxidative Stress; Liver; offspring

Using mathematical model to design and sizing of pumping water system

The role of the pump in any pumping system is to provide sufficient pressure to overcome the operating pressure of the system in order to move fluid (water) at a required flow rate to the user. In this study, a mathematics model was used for design in order to provide adequate water supply to every quarter in Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa state Nigeria. According to the research, the proposed water supply requires a 1360W power pump, a 1500W inverter, and a 1500W solar panel. Because the suggested water supply is based on renewable energy, the study found that it can be used at Federal Polytechnic Mubi to increase their supply for human use. As a result, the FPM management has reduced greenhouse gas emissions

The potential for using risk models in future lung cancer screening trials

Computed tomography screening for early diagnosis of lung cancer is one of the more potentially useful strategies, aside from smoking cessation programmes, for reducing mortality and improving the current poor survival from this disease. The long-term success of lung cancer screening will be dependent upon identifying populations at sufficient risk in order to maximise the benefit-to-harm ratio of the intervention. Risk prediction models could potentially play a major role in the selection of high-risk individuals who would benefit most from screening intervention programmes for the early detection of lung cancer. Improvements of developed lung cancer risk prediction models (through incorporation of objective clinical factors and genetic and molecular biomarkers for precise and accurate estimation of risks), demonstration of their clinical usefulness in decision making, and their use in future screening programmes are the focus of current research

The effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Boerhavia diffusa Linn. on semen and testicular morphology of male wistar rats

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Boerhavia diffusa plant on the semen and testicular morphology of male Wistar rats was investigated. Thirty five rats were divided into seven groups of five animals each (Groups I-VII) with group I serving as the control. Distilled water (0.5 mls) was administered orally to rats in Group I (Control), while rats in the remaining six experimental groups (II-VII) were dosed orally with 50, 100 and 150mg/kg of 2.4% aqueous extract of B. diffusa for 60 days and then euthanized immediately (Grps II, IV & VI) or allowed to recover for one week before euthanasia (Grps III, V & VII). The serum testosterone level, weights and histopathology of the testes, epididymes and seminal vesicles were determined, and the spermatozoa from the cauda epididymes of the groups were studied. Data were compared using Man-whitney’s test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). There was no significant difference in the serum testosterone level between treated rats and control. The weights of the testes, epididymes and seminal vesicles were however significantly (

Oestrous cyclicity disruption in Wistar rats subjected to partial sleep deprivation

Background: Chronic partial sleep deprivation continues to be a global problem. Studies have shown that oestrous cyclicity is disrupted by total sleep deprivation. The relationship between partial sleep deprivation – the predominant form of sleep deprivation in the current global society – and the oestrous pattern remains elusive. This study examined oestrous cycle patterns of rats subjected to partial sleep deprivation.Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into control and Sleep-Deprived (SD) groups of fifteen rats each. Oestrous patterns were monitored for two weeks before sleep deprivation and throughout the study. Sleep deprivation was induced using the modified multiple platform method. Five animals were sacrificed under thiopental anaesthesia during proestrus on days 7, 14 and 21. The ovaries, uteri and adrenal glands were examined. Data were compared using t-test at p<0.05.Results: Proestrus and oestrus frequencies reduced in the SD groups; metestrus frequency increased in the 7 days and 14 days SD and diestrus frequency increased in 21 days SD group. Cycle lengths increased in the 14 days and 21days SD groups. The SD groups had inflammation of ovary and uterus, as well as adrenal medulla hyperplasia.Conclusion: Partial sleep deprivation reduces frequencies of phases characterized by sexual activity and ovulation while increasing cycle lengths in Wistar rats. Thus, adequate sleep is important for women who are trying to get pregnant.Keywords: Sleep deprivation, Oestrous cycle, Adrenal medulla, rat