Low dose bitter leaf improves sperm quality disrupted in immunosuppressed Wistar rats: An experimental study

Background: Synthetic prednisolone (PRED) is a widely used over-the-counter glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids have inhibitory effects on the immune system and are often used as immunosuppressive agents. Suppressed immunity may impact fertility via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Bitter leaf (BL) has been shown to improve sperm parameters, but its effects on immunosuppression-associated infertility have not yet been documented. Objective: To determine the fertility effects of bitter leaf on immunosuppressed Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 male adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 5/each). Group A served as a control and were given distilled water in addition to normal feeds, group B received 2 mg/kg PRED for 14 days and served as the standard immunosuppressed group, and groups C-F were immunosuppressed as in B but in addition received 50 mg/kg levamisole, low-dose (250 mg/kg) BL, highdose (375 mg/kg) BL, and low-dose BL + levamisole, respectively. The CD4 counts, hematological parameters, and sperm parameters were analyzed and compared. Results: There were significant decreases in sperm motility, progressive motility, morphology, and life/death ratio in the animals given PRED only compared to the controls (p = 0.002, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.01, respectively). These were significantly increased in the treated groups, and animals given levamisole and 250 mg/kg BL showed significantly increased sperm counts compared to the controls (p = 0.04 and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Low-dose BL (250 mg/kg) restored the sperm parameters altered by prednisolone administration. Key words: Bitter leaf, Immunosuppression, Infertility, Prednisolone, Rats

Dichlorvos Induced AChE Inhibition in Discrete Brain Regions and the Neuro-Cognitive Implications: Ameliorative Effect of Nigella Sativa

Background: There has been a rise in accidental poisoning cases resulting from the indiscriminate use and exposure to Dichlorvos (DDVP), especially in developing countries, and no antidote with satisfactory efficacy is currently available. Thus, we investigated the AChE reactivation potential of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) following DDVP induced AChE inhibition patterns in the brain and the associated cognitive implications. Methods: Fourty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10 each.; The controls were administered PBS (1 ml/kg); DDVP (8.8 mg/kg) was given to the experimental group I; while DDVP+NSO (8.8 mg/kg + 1 ml/kg) and NSO (1 ml/kg) was administered orally to the experimental groups II and III respectively. All treatments lasted for 14 consecutive days. Morris Water Maze (MWM) paradigm was used to assess the working memory, then rats were euthanized, the brain excised, three brains were fixed for histological examination (Nissl staining), and the other seven brains were homogenized for AChE activity and Ca2+ concentrations. Data were analyzed statistically, using ANOVA method and P values of ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: In this study, DDVP differentially inhibited AChE activities in various brain regions: cerebellum (86.1%), hippocampus (40.6%), frontal cortex (33.2%), medulla (21.5%), spinal cord (14.8%), and occipital cortex (8.9%). It reduced Ca2+ concentration, but had no effect on the delayed escape latency in the MWM, nor impaired the neuro-architectures. NSO caused increased AChE activities, Ca2+ concentration and reduced escape latency, and improved histologic architectures. Conclusion: We concluded that NSO reactivated DDVP-induced AChE inhibition and improved memory indices, thus, it may serve as a potential treatment in the management of DDVP poisoning cases

Author's Reply to "Low-dose bitter leaf improves sperm quality disrupted in immunosuppressed Wistar rats: An experimental study"

This is a Reply Letter and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML

Author's Reply to "Low-dose Bitter Leaf Improves Sperm Quality Disrupted in Immunosuppressed Wistar Rats: an Experimental Study"

This is a Reply Letter and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML