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

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

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 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 (

Chalcopyrite Leaching in Ammonia-Ammonium Chloride Solutions: Insight into the Dissolution Kinetic Studies

The hydrometallurgical method for processing chalcopyrite ore has gained enormous attention due to the environmental problems emanated by the conventional pyrometallurgical route. Here, hydrometallurgy is considered an alternative that may be more of low-cost and environmentally friendly. Thus, alkaline leaching has been considered an effective, efficient, and acceptable leachant for chalcopyrite ore dissolution. The dissolution kinetics of copper from low-grade chalcopyrite ore was examined in an ammonia-ammonium chloride solution. However, the effect of parameters including leachant concentration, reaction temperature, and particle size was considered. . At optimal conditions (o.4 mol/L NH3-NH4Cl; 75 °C; 43 µm), 81.1% dissolution efficiency was achieved within 120 minutes. The leaching kinetics with activation energy (Ea) of 29.95 kJ/mol is by the proposed diffusion control mechanism. Hence, the dissolution rate was confirmed by characterizing the raw ore and un-leached residue using XRD and SEM-EDS analyses for possible industrial utilities

Experimental maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation induces neonatal testicular and epididymal oxidative stress; Implications for early postnatal exposure

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation alters reproductive functions and increases serum corticosterone in the male offspring. Excess corticosterone may induce oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on oxidative stress indices in the testis and epididymis of a male offspring. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups (n = 5). Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100 g/day normal saline subcutaneously at lactation days 1–21. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 100 μg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) subcutaneously at lactation days (LD) 1–7, 1–14, and 1–21 respectively. Testis and epididymis malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured as markers of oxidative stress. The mean testis and epididymis MDA were significantly raised (p < 0.05) in the dexamethasone-treated groups when compared with control. This was accompanied with a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in SOD and catalase activities in these tissues in the DexLD 1–21, when compared with control. The mean total protein level of the epididymis was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in all the dexamethasone treated groups when compared with control. In conclusion, maternal treatment with dexamethasone during the first two weeks of lactation and throughout lactation may lead to increase in oxidative stress in the testis and epididymis of the male offspring of Wistar rats