Studies on crude powder and ethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seeds: phytochemical analysis, effects on haemogram and some reproductive characteristics of male albino rats

Effects of crude powder and ethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seeds on haemogram, spermiogram, testicular and epididymal histology of forty-eight male wistar rats were investigated following phytochemical analysis. The rats, divided into three test groups (A, B and C; n=16) were administered distilled water (Group A), ground powder (Groups B; 200mg/kg) and ethanol extract of Citrullus lanatus seed (Group C; 200mg/kg) for 28 days. Blood samples were collected from all rats after expiration of extract administration for haemogram. Subsequently, four rats from each group were sacrificed weekly post treatment for a period of four weeks for semen analysis and histology. Phytochemical analysis revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides. Haematological parameters were not significantly different across the groups. Mean sperm motility of the control group was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with treatment groups (A and B) each week post treatment. Also, initial lower sperm motility recorded in week 1 and 2 post treatment in the treatment groups followed by increase at week 3 and 4 were observed. However, there were significant post treatment reductions (p<0.05) each week in sperm morphological abnormalities comparing the treatment groups with control group. Histology of the testes of Treatment groups showed numerous closely packed seminiferous tubules with normal architecture containing spermatogenic cells. The study revealed that ground powder and ethanol extract of Citrullus lanatus seeds administered at 200mg/kg have no deleterious effect on haemogram, the organs of male reproduction and sperm morphology. Hence, it may be considered safe for use in breeding animals.Keywords: Citrullus lanatus, crude powder, ethanolic, semen, haemogra

Reproductive potential of male catfish treated with gel extract of Aloe vera plant

The reproductive potential of male catfish treated with gel extract of Aloe vera plant was studied using twelve male fish weighing 500-560g.The fish were divided into 3 groups; A, B and C with four fish in each group. Group A was treated with 2% Aloe vera gel while group B was treated with 3% and Group C the control was treated with distil water. Blood and semen samples were collected for analysis and histology of the testis was done. Spermiogram revealed that as the concentration of the gel increased, the motility and sperm count decreased. Although the decrease in sperm motility was significant (p<0.05), the decrease in the sperm count was not significant (p>0.05) across the groups. Percentage liveability of sperm cells was significantly lower (p<0.05) in treated groups than control. The control group had higher semen volume, this volume was however not significantly different (p>0.05) from other treatments. Morphological studies showed that group B (3% group) had a significantly higher value (p<0.05) of total sperm abnormalities than the other groups. The best histological integrity of the testes was observed in group C (control).This study concludes that exposure of male C. gariepinus to all treatment levels of Aloe vera gel is detrimental to the reproductive potential of the catfish and could be a cause of infertility in the catfish.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Aloe vera, spermiogram and histolog

The Pharmaceutical Properties, Microbial Quality, In-vivo Aphrodisiac Effect and Safety of Some Herbal Bitters Sold in Southwest Nigeria

Aphrodisiac drugs are used to enhance sexual activity and rectify erectile dysfunction especially among older men. In Nigeria, herbal medicinal products formulated as herbal drinks/bitters are prevalent and sold in various locations including motor parks, store and markets. Despite their wide use, the potency and safety of the herbal drinks have not been ascertained. Thus, pharmaceutical and aphrodisiac properties of five randomly selected herbal drinks with aphrodisiac claim have been evaluated. Pharmaceutical and microbial qualities were evaluated using standard procedures and the in vivo aphrodisiac activities were evaluated in male Wistar rats. The effects of chronic consumption of the bitters on the biochemical and tissue histology were assessed. The herbal bitters exhibited low viscosity (< 10 cP), high alcohol content (30 – 52 %), acidic pH (3.33 - 5.40), and low density (0.942-1.070 g/ml). The phytoconstituents include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, cardenolides, tannins and anthraquinone. Microbial contaminations were with the limits for oral preparations. The bitters exhibited significant (p < 0.001) aphrodisiac effect but had no significant effect on fertility and hematological parameters. Chronic consumption of the herbal drinks at 250mg/kg following was hepatotoxic while two brands were cardiotoxic and nephrotoxic. There is therefore the need to monitor and control the quality and use of herbal bitters/drinks sold in the Nigerian market to safeguard public healt

Spermiogram and testicular morphological studies of the buck after treatment with ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin

Twelve sexually matured West African Dwarf bucks from were used for the experiment. Plant extraction was by cold extraction method using hexane and ethanol as solvents. All the goats had bilaterally well descended free testicles. They were kept in standard goat pen, were served water ad libitum, centrosema plant and ration. They were stabilised for two weeks after which pre-treatment spermiogram was done followed by 14 days of oral administration of 800mg/kg ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin. Spermiogram was repeated after treatment. Two randomly selected goats were then castrated through a midline pre-scrotal incision for morphological study and histology of the testes and epididymides. Total spermatozoa morphological abnormalities in pre-treatment of 17.1% was significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the 10% recorded for post-treatment. Curved mid-piece (1.8%) and bent tail (1.8%) constituted the highest abnormalities post-treatment while curved tail (3.5%) was highest pre-treatment. Mean values of progressive motility and percentage liveability were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in post- treatment (96.17±3.10% and 98.25±1.36% respectively) compared to pre-treatment (80.83±11.84% and 78.75±9.56% respectively). Post-treatment sperm concentration (2.50±0.32 x109 cells/ml) compared with pre-treatment (2.32±0.36 x109 cells/ml) was not significantly different. Post-treatment gross and histological features of the bucks’ testes and epididymis were normal. The work revealed that Spondias mombin at 800mg/kgBW improved semen quality in bucks indicating its usefulness as a potential profertility agent.Keywords: Buck, Morphological, Spondias mombin, Spermiogram, Testicula

Effect of semen extenders on the motility and viability of stored African Catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) spermatozoa

This study assessed the effects of common extenders and diluents on the spermatozoa of African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ), with the intent of obtaining a semen preservation protocol that can serve as a means of making fingerlings available to fish farmers all year round. Semen samples (milt) were pooled from mature broodstock males and pre-extension qualities were evaluated. Egg yolk, tomato juice and sodium citrate buffers were combined in four different trials and used to preserve obtained semen at temperatures of 5\ub0C and -40\ub0C for 8 days and 4 weeks respectively in different trials. Motility indices of extended, preserved, refrigerated and frozen semen were used to analyze the effect of the various combinations. Forward, progressive and rectilinear motion was employed as a significant measurement of the livability of extended sperm cells and the efficacy of the extender solution. The result of the study showed that the buffer (sodium citrate) on its own performed excellently well (sperm motility was 85%) in enhancing survival within the first 24-48 hours post extension; Semen extended with 20% tomato juice gave the best survival rate when stored at 5\ub0C, because the sperm cells were still viable by day 6 post- extension. Extender containing 20% egg yolk gave 70% motility while that containing 10% egg yolk mixed with 10% tomato juice gave 60% motility. However, motility decreased progressively as the period of storage increased. The results of the effect of freezing (at -40\ub0C) on motility revealed that no motility was observed in all the cryopreserved trials except the sample containing 10% egg yolk and 10% tomato juice, which recorded 10% post-thaw motility

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A comparatives study of some Hematology and Biochemical parameters of clinically healthy Alsatian and local dogs

The effect of breed on serum biochemistry and hematological parameters of clinically healthy dogs was studied by collecting blood from the cephalic vein of ten (10) Alsatian and ten (10) local dogs. The parameters evaluated were not significantly different between the two breeds

The age at puberty of the Nigerian local dogs in Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria

No AbstractKeywords: age, epididymus, Nigerian local dog, testes, testosteron

Double Cervix in a five-year-old white Fulani Cow

A case report of true double cervix in a five-year-old white Fulani cow is presented. The condition is known to cause infertility which might be the reason why the cow was brought to the slaughterhouse at this critical age

Some reproductive indices of the Nigerian local bitches in Ibadan, Nigeria

Some reproductive parameters of the Nigerian local bitches were studied at the kennel of the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, University of Ibadan using 6 bitches and 1 stud aged between 2 and 3 years, weighing 10 to 12kg. The bitches were mated naturally by the stud at the second day of cytological oestrus and allowed to carry the pregnancy to term. The bitches and puppies were weighed weekly and observed till weaning. Mean gestation length was 63.5 ± 0.3 day. Mean litter size was 7.0 ± 2.0 puppies. Litter sex ratio was 1.25 females to 1 male puppy. Mean birth weights were 308.3 ± 15.3 and 286.3 +11.8 grammes for male and female puppies respectively, while the respective weaning live weights were 1.5 ± 0.2 and 1.8 ± 0.1kg. Litter size affected the birth weight; the mean birth weight of puppies with the litter size 10 was significantly lighter (p< 0.05) than those with litter sizes 7, 6 and 4 puppies. Mean age at testicular descent was 6.1 ± 0.6 days while eyes of puppies were opened at mean age 15.4 ± 0.2 days. Mean duration between whelping and first oestrus was 3.9 ± 0.07 months. The neonatal mortality rate was 35.3%, more female puppies (26.4%) than male puppies (5.9%) died during the first week of life. These high mortalities might be due to cold and maternal negligence. With these basic data, the reproductive potential of the Nigerian local bitch can be harnessed